Ange Postecoglou calms Tottenham injury fears regarding Destiny Udogie
Tottenham Hotspur’s trip to Manchester United on Sunday was a perfect one for the club’s faithful, at least for the most part. While the result and performance will set tongues wagging, Spurs fans would have been concerned by the knock taken by Destiny Udogie.
The Italian international has been a dynamic presence for the North Londoners since joining the club in 2023 and is always present in the playing XI when fit.
The 21-year-old who had been involved in several key attacking moves, including almost getting on the scoresheet, appeared to be struggling physically towards the end of the first half. At one point, he spent time on the ground and hobbled off the pitch, with Djed Spence warming up as a potential replacement. Despite this, Udogie finished the half, but Postecoglou made the decision to bring Spence on for the second period.
Speaking to the press after the match, Postecoglou addressed the injury concerns surrounding Udogie and suggested that the decision to substitute him was purely precautionary via Football.London.
“Yeah, he was ok. I mean, he felt something in his quad but he obviously finished the half. We just thought at half-time there was no point in pushing him.”
The manager also referenced the fact that Udogie had been called into action earlier than expected in Tottenham’s previous match against Qarabag in the Europa League, which may have contributed to his fatigue. “Destiny had to come on pretty early on Thursday night, which wasn’t the plan, and I would say Micky [van de Ven] played probably more than we wanted him to.”
Postecoglou emphasized the importance of managing the workload of his players, especially given the demanding schedule ahead.
“With those kinds of things, we’ve just got to be really careful. Djed [Spence] did well when he came on, so I thought it was just wise to take Udogie off, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Spence Shines in Udogie’s Absence
Djed Spence continues to prove his versatility, slotting in at left-back and putting in a solid performance after replacing Udogie. The young defender has shown that he is more than capable of stepping in and maintaining the team’s performance levels when required. His assured display will give Postecoglou confidence that he has reliable depth in the full-back position if Udogie needs to rest.
Nevertheless, the good news is that Udogie’s injury doesn’t seem to be serious, and the young Italian should be available for upcoming fixtures. His dynamic presence on the left wing has been a key feature of Tottenham’s play this season, and the team undoubtedly benefits from having him in the lineup.
Udogie to Return Soon?
Tottenham fans can breathe a sigh of relief following Postecoglou’s positive update on Udogie’s condition. While the left-back experienced some discomfort in his quad, it appears to be a minor issue, and the decision to substitute him was taken with caution in mind. With Djed Spence stepping up when needed, Spurs have options in the full-back position, but Udogie’s return to full fitness will be eagerly anticipated as Tottenham look to continue their strong form in the weeks ahead.
