ge Postecoglou has admitted that Pape Matar Sarr is dealing with a ‘back issue’ with the midfielder managing only eight minutes in Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
One of the first names on Postecoglou’s team sheet in the first half of the campaign, the £15 million signing from Metz has been a little more in and out since returning from the African Cup of Nations.
Pape Matar Sarr has started only two of Tottenham Hotspur’s last four top-flight games, and was left on the bench until the final few months of that hard-earned comeback victory over London neighbours Crystal Palace today.
And, speaking to Football London following a win which kept Spurs in touching distance of the Champions League spots, Postecoglou revealed that the Senegal international is still to rediscover his top fitness.
Postecoglou provides Pape Matar Sarr update
“He’s had a bit of a back issue since he got back from sort of the Africa Cup of Nations. He’s been dealing with it and it’s getting better but it’s not sort of totally free,” the former Celtic boss explains after Sarr was spotted in some discomfort at full-time.
“So it’s something we’re working on with him.
“It doesn’t stop him training. He’s still been training. But it does restrict him, it’s something we’re constantly working on but, from what I understand, he’ll be fine. Like I said he hasn’t missed training so it’s just something we’re working on with him.”
Tottenham fight back to beat Crystal Palace
Yves Bissouma partnered Rodrigo Bentancur at the heart of the Tottenham midfield against Oliver Glasner’s improved Palace side. Ebere Eze threatened a shock when he opened the scoring on the hour mark. But, not for the first time under Postecoglou, Spurs came roaring back with two goals in the blink of an eye.
Timo Werner’s first for the club – after missing a glorious chance early on – provided the precursor to Cristian Romero’s 80th minute effort. Captain Heung-Min Son then finished off the game as a contest just before stoppage time.
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