Team news | Ange on Micky: "Great to have him back"
Fri 31 January 2025, 14:25|
Tottenham Hotspur
Ange Postecoglou said Micky van de Ven will continue to 'build up his minutes' as we step back into Premier League action at Brentford on Sunday (2pm UK).
The centre-back made his return from six weeks on the sidelines in our 3-0 win against Elfsborg in the last match of the league phase of the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night. That was only his second start since the end of October, when he initially damaged his hamstring in the Carabao Cup against Manchester City - injury has ruled him out of 20 of our last 22 matches in all competitions.
Micky completed 45 minutes in a win that secured a coveted top eight place in the league phase and took us directly through to the Round of 16 in March, where we'll face one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or Midtjylland over two legs on 6/13 March.
Speaking to the media at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, Ange was asked if Micky was now ready to play the full 90 minutes at the Gtech.
He said: "We'll see, probably not 90, but only because it's a short turn around. He felt really good last night. It was great to have him out there. You know he's a good player but you don't realise how much of a good player he is until... I guess it's the same with a lot of our players who have been been missing for quite a while, it's not just the impact they have individually, it's the impact they have on the group. The whole group got a lift seeing him out there last night. Like I said, knock on wood, he got through it really well, felt good afterwards and we'll give him some more game time, build up his minutes at the weekend."
Unfortunately, Radu Dragusin will miss out this weekend after damaging his knee against Elfsborg. Ange reported that Djed Spence would be available again, with Sergio Reguilon also in the frame to return. Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke remain on the sidelines. Antonin Kinsky will be available after being ineligible in the UEL.
