Tottenham's Thomas Frank provides an update on the injury status of Lucas Bergvall and Joao Palhinha, following a significant setback for the team.
Bergvall's injury came as a result of a tackle in the 62nd minute of Tottenham's 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Despite his efforts to continue, he was eventually replaced by the 17-year-old debutant, Jun'ai Byfield.
Frank, while unable to provide an exact timeline for Bergvall's return, indicated that it might be a lengthy recovery period. He stated, 'It looks like a longer one.'
The Spurs manager confirmed that Bergvall had sustained an ankle injury, adding to the team's unfortunate injury woes. Frank explained, 'He's been assessed these two days, so I'll know more about the timeframe in the next couple of days.'
Additionally, Frank revealed that Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie started the game on Wednesday after recovering from injuries, while Xavi Simons showcased a bruised foot on social media post-game.
Joao Palhinha, who has been sidelined due to a knock sustained during training, is making steady progress and could potentially return for the upcoming match against Burnley, though Frank noted that it might be tight.
Pape Matar Sarr, who recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, is now fit and available for selection. However, the Senegal midfielder had been battling an illness.
Frank admitted that injuries had forced him to make some difficult decisions, as several players in the starting lineup on Tuesday were playing through pain. Simons, for instance, started the game with a swollen ankle, and Archie Gray was also named in the starting lineup despite being substituted at halftime against West Ham.
Bergvall, despite not being deemed fit enough to start or play extended minutes against West Ham, was thrust into the starting lineup against Dortmund due to the team's limited midfield options. He played for just over an hour before being substituted.
Spurs, currently ranked 14th in the Premier League, are already dealing with the absence of several key players, including James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, and Richarlison, who are all long-term injury absentees.
