- Alderweireld has established himself as a pivotal piece in Tottenham defence
- Pochettino will undoubtedly miss his presence this season if injury worsens
- Belgian international reveals fear over serious setback
- READ MORE: Video: MOTD pundit makes crucial Tottenham point on what needs to change to end poor form
There’s no denying that Tottenham are a better side with Toby Alderweireld in it, but the Belgian ace has lifted the lid on his injury fears.
The 28-year-old has made 15 appearances in all competitions so far this season, but has missed the last five Premier League games with a hamstring injury. Given the nature of the problem, the last thing Spurs will want to do is rush him back and risk another setback.
Alderweireld has raised those fears, as he has conceded that should his hamstring tear worsen, he could be forced to go under the knife which would in turn unsurprisingly result in a longer spell on the sidelines.
“I suffered a serious muscle tear, and there is a major risk of me suffering a relapse. If the muscle tears completely then I will need an operation, and 14 weeks of recovery time,” he is quoted as saying by The Sun.
“I will have a scan in two weeks‘ time. We will see how much it has recovered, and how far we can push it.”
If there was a need to further explain how important the Belgian international is to Tottenham, in the five league games that he’s missed, Spurs have lost to Arsenal and Leicester City, while being held to draws by West Bromwich Albion and Watford.
In those five games, they’ve managed just one win which came against Crystal Palace, which was also their only clean sheet. To add further problems for Mauricio Pochettino, after Davinson Sanchez’s red card at the weekend, he’ll have another big decision to make during his suspension.