Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Dejan Kulusevski will miss Tottenham’s Europa League trip to AZ Alkmaar on Thursday.
Kulusevski pictured wearing a protective boot ahead of the last-16 first leg European tie.
And now Postecoglou will have to accommodate the absence of the influential midfielder in Spurs’ biggest game of the season to date at AFAS Stadion on Thursday evening.
While Postecoglou is confident of Kulusevski’s injury not being too serious, he will not be involved against AZ and isn’t expected to feature in the return leg next week or this weekend’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth.
“Deki's the only one, Kulusevski. He's had a knock on the foot, he's not sure when to be honest,” Postecoglou told reporters. “It's got sore over the last couple of weeks, he's been able to train, play but it wasn't getting any better.
“We did some further investigations, no clarity but unlikely to be back before international break. Not serious, no surgery.
"Ben Davies, he's close, he's still doing some work back at the training ground with Richy. He's close."
