Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld has been ruled out until Christmas.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld could be out for six weeks with a hamstring injury, with Mauricio Pochettino confirming to the London Evening Standard that the Belgian is unlikely to play again before Christmas.
Alderweireld limped off during the 3-1 Champions League victory over Real Madrid on November 1.
News of the severity of his injury will be a big blow to Pochettino, whose signing from Atletico Madrid has been a pivotal member of what has been the Premier League’s tightest defence over the last two seasons.
The solution seems pretty obvious, with the versatile Eric Dier dropping back into the three-man defence and Mousa Dembele and Moussa Sissoko rotating the England international’s midfield duties in the meantime.
However, Pochettino could also use Alderweireld’s absence as an excuse to recall Danny Rose.
The 27-year-old has just returned from a long layoff but may struggle to oust the in-form Ben Davies at left-back.
Rose has been voted into the PFA Team of the Year in each of the last two seasons and Pochettino will be keen to get him back in his side, while remaining fair to Davies who has been brilliant for Spurs this term.
The Welshman has proven to be more than comfortable on the left side of a back three at international level, and could be shifted inside to accommodate Rose in the team, with Jan Vertonghen switching to the right.
This isn’t an option Pochettino need consider if Dembele is healthy, but the Belgian’s fitness has to be managed carefully and Tottenham supporters would rather have Rose on the teamsheet than Sissoko.
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