Tottenham confirm both Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin have taken big step on road to first-team returns.
Thomas Frank has been unfortunate with injuries in his debut season as Tottenham Hotspur boss. Several players have suffered injuries and missed games this campaign, while there are some casualties from last term too.
James Maddison’s season ended before it even started after suffering an ACL injury to his right knee in the pre-season tour of Asia. Dominic Solanke is yet to start a game under Thomas Frank, having endured persistent ankle problems. This even forced him to undergo a minor surgery at the start of October, and although expectations were high that the England international might return shortly after the last international break, he still remains out.
Summer signing from Kawasaki Frontale, Kota Takai has been on the periphery since July after picking plantar fasciitis and a subsequent thigh problem in training. Thomas Frank said at the start of October that Kota Takai had been back in full team training for over a week and his condition was improving. However, the youngster seemingly suffered a setback in his recovery from a foot problem.
Tottenham handed double injury boost
Alongside Takai, Radu Dragusin hasn’t featured for Spurs this season as he suffered an ACL rupture to his right knee in a Europa League game in January last season. In fact, Radu Dragusin has not played at senior level since undergoing surgery back in February.
Now, the Lilywhites have been handed a much-needed double injury boost heading into the festive period. As per information released by the club’s official website, Takai and Dragusin featured for the Tottenham’s Under-21s in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Dagenham and Redbridge at Hotspur Way earlier this week. Both defenders started the game against Dagenham, with Takai playing the first half and Dragusin featuring for 65 minutes as they each built up match fitness.
This was Dragusin’s second behind-closed-doors friendly as he had played 45 minutes for Wayne Burnett’s Under-21s against Leyton Orient in November. But for Takai, this was his first taste of competitive action in a bid to step up recovery after being out for months. Both players had their minutes carefully managed.
Takai, Dragusin return would beef up Tottenham’s options at the back
It does not require reminding that Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven boast of patchy injury records over the last two campaigns, and Kevin Danso is presently the only other experienced centre-back available at Frank’s disposal. So, having Takai and Dragusin back perhaps before the end of the year, provided they do not suffer any setbacks, would be massive plus for Frank.
The Spurs boss has had to juggle his resources very carefully in a bid to keep the squad match sharp, fresh and avoid any new setbacks despite a taxing fixture schedule that has seen his team play every three/four days in recent weeks. Takai and Dragusin are expected to be available soon for selection to bolster the squad’s defensive ranks amid a hectic fixture schedule that also sees the Dane’s side face former club Brentford, Slavia Prague, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Crystal Palace before 2025.
