Boost for Tottenham ahead of Sunday’s Premier League game against Aston Villa as star striker suffers injury on international duty
The ongoing international break was turning out to be quite a good one for Tottenham Hotspur and our fans, until Monday.
Yves Bissouma was a surprise call-up to the Mali national team for the World Cup qualifier against Madagascar. The midfielder has not played a single competitive minute under Spurs boss Thomas Frank this season due to a knee injury, but Mali national team deemed him fit enough to feature. However, just moments after coming on as a substitute, Bissouma suffered a serious-looking ankle injury and had to be stretchered off the pitch.
Even though the 29-year-old has fallen down the midfield pecking order this season, to see him get injured again should come as a big disappointment for Thomas Frank. It looks like the midfielder will not be fit to face Aston Villa after the international break.
Spurs host Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, hoping to pick up from where they left for the international break. They had beaten Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road, ending the three-game winless run across all competitions. And ahead of Sunday’s fixture, it looks like Thomas Frank’s side have been handed a boost.
Ollie Watkins suffers injury on international duty
According to a report from The Athletic, Ollie Watkins has been forced to withdraw from the England camp with an injury and has now returned to Aston Villa. The centre-forward suffered a knock during England’s 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday and was forced off at half time. Having been unable to shake off the knock, England have decided to release him early.
Consequently, Watkins will not be in the Three Lions squad for Tuesday’s trip to Latvia, where a victory would guarantee their place in next summer’s World Cup. To fill in for the injured Aston Villa star, Thomas Tuchel surprisingly called up Spurs academy talent Dane Scarlett. The 21-year-old trained with the England senior squad on Monday at the Hotspur Way.
Coming back to Watkins, the 29-year-old is now a big doubt to face Tottenham on October 19. He was spotted limping out of Wembley Stadium after the Wales game last week. The striker has endured a slow start to the season but opened his account in the 3-1 win over Fulham last month and added then added another goal against Wales.
Thus, if Watkins was to miss the trip to north London, it would be a major setback for Unai Emery. For Frank and Co., it would be a big boost as the Villa striker is a real handful, loves to run the channels and play on the shoulder of the last defender. He also boasts a decent personal record against Tottenham with three goals and two assists in 10 appearances.
That said, our defenders will be hoping Watkins misses out on the weekend’s Premier League game.
