Destiny Udogie out for six weeks with hamstring injury, Tottenham squad hit by illness bug

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham Hotspur defender Destiny Udogie will miss six weeks with a hamstring injury, while other members of the first-team squad have been hit by an illness bug.

Udogie, 22, came off in the 50th minute of Tottenham’s 2-2 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on December 29 and was replaced by Sergio Reguilon, who was making his first Premier League appearances of the season.

“Destiny did his hamstring and looks around the six week mark for him missing,” Postecoglou said on Friday ahead of the visit of Newcastle United in the Premier League.

“We lose Bentancur, suspended, none of the injured ones are back yet. We have had a bit of an illness bug through the squad as well so a few people have missed training but we will be all right.”

Postecoglou was non-committal when pressed on which players may miss the match due to illness before giving an update on other absentees.

Postecoglou’s side have undergone a defensive injury crisis in recent weeks with first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven all injured alongside Ben Davies, who can deputise at both left-back and centre-back.

“At this stage, Richy and Mikey Moore are the next two cabs off the rank,” Postecoglou said. “Hopefully next week at some point. Ben (Davies), Micky van de Ven and (Cristian) Romero are all around the same time, the back end of January they are slated to return.”

In Udogie’s absence for the recent 3-6 Premier League home defeat to Liverpool, Djed Spence — whose preferred position is right-back — deputised at left-back, with Reguilon and Davies the other options in Postecoglou’s squad.

The defeat to Liverpool was the only match of Tottenham’s 19 league games to date in 2023-24 in which Udogie has not started.

The Athletic reported in the January Transfer DealSheet that Spurs would look to recruit this month if their injury list did not clear up.

Spurs return to action with a Premier League home match against Newcastle United on January 4 before host Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi final four days later.

---

‘A huge blow’

Udogie’s latest injury is a huge blow for Postecoglou who will now have to cope without three of his first-choice back four as well as goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for a crucial run of fixtures that includes Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United and the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final tie against Liverpool.

It will provide Djed Spence with another opportunity to show his quality. Spence joined Spurs from Middlesbrough in July 2022 but only made his first start for them in last month’s 5-0 victory over Southampton. The 24-year-old is comfortable playing on the left or the right and is a threat going forward — he has registered two assists in his last four appearances in all competitions.

Spence missed Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Wolves after being sent off for two bookable offences in their 1-0 defeat to his former club Nottingham Forest on December 26. He will be available against Newcastle after serving a one-match ban.

Udogie’s absence will impact Sergio Reguilon too. Reguilon is not a part of Postecoglou’s long-term plans and has made only two substitute appearances this season. He has entered the final six months of his deal and can sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs. With Udogie the latest defender to be injured though, it is probably best if Reguilon sticks around to provide cover in the next couple of months.

(Ryan Crockett/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)