Postecoglou provides update on Destiny Udogie’s fitness

Destiny Udogie is expected to play a vital role in Ange Postecoglou’s plans at Tottenham Hotspur this season and has started in both of their Premier League clashes so far against Leicester City and more recently versus Everton.

In their home outing against the Toffees, the 21-year-old had to be withdrawn on the 73rd minute due to a discomfort which many feared would be an injury from the outset.

Postecoglou spoke about Udogie’s fitness in his press conference after the match and was quoted saying the following by Football London:

“No, he was a bit sore. He had sort of tightness, both hamstrings and calves, I think. Again, he was really fatigued last week as well, so trying to get as many match minutes into him as possible through this early period just to get his fitness up. I haven’t spoken to the medical team but when I spoke to him, he just said he felt tired.”

Udogie’s substitution came more as a precaution as Postecoglou even revealed that the Italian international was not fully fit yet, alongside Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Moreover, after he missed Euro 2024 in the summer, it is understandable why the Australian did not want to take any risks regarding his fitness.

Given that it was only a minor issue, Spurs will expect to have the former Udinese star back in time for the visit to Newcastle next weekend but there will be concerns regarding his participation in the Italy camp during the international break.

Udogie has emerged as a vital player for the Azzurri and there admittedly poses a risk that he faces an injury during the fortnight he spends with them, which is anyway said to be a notorious period for players to have their fitness hampered in.

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It remains to be seen how much time the left-back needs to get up to speed with the rest of his teammates but Tottenham will not take any chances with him after a lengthy recovery from injury in the summer, and will hope the Italian federation also follows the same path.