Tottenham Hotspur have been dealt a significant blow with the news that star striker Dominic Solanke is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks due to a knee injury. The 25-year-old forward, who joined Spurs from Bournemouth in a £55 million transfer this past summer, sustained the injury during a training session last week.
Solanke’s absence was felt immediately, as he missed Tottenham’s Premier League clash against Everton on Sunday and their Europa League victory over Hoffenheim on Thursday. Speaking after the 3-2 win in Germany, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou provided an update on the England international’s condition.
“With Dom, the information now is that we are looking at around the six-week mark,” Postecoglou revealed. “No surgery. Maybe we can get him back a little bit earlier, just see how he progresses. But, at this stage, it’s saying around six weeks.”
A Key Figure in Tottenham’s Attack
Since arriving at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Solanke has quickly established himself as a vital component of Postecoglou’s attacking setup. The former Chelsea and Liverpool forward has netted an impressive 11 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions for Spurs this season.
Solanke’s absence comes at a particularly inopportune time for Tottenham, who are already grappling with a spate of injuries to key players. The likes of Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, and Brennan Johnson are all currently unavailable for selection due to various fitness concerns.
Spurs’ Upcoming Fixtures
With Solanke set to miss a significant portion of the remaining season, Tottenham will need to find alternative solutions in attack as they navigate a congested fixture list. Spurs are set to face a series of challenging opponents in the coming weeks, including:
- Manchester City (A) – Premier League
- AC Milan (H) – Europa League Round of 16, 1st Leg
- Chelsea (H) – Premier League
- AC Milan (A) – Europa League Round of 16, 2nd Leg
- West Ham United (A) – Premier League
The onus will now fall on the likes of Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, and Dejan Kulusevski to shoulder the goal-scoring burden in Solanke’s absence. Postecoglou may also need to explore alternative tactical setups or delve into the transfer market to bolster his attacking options.
As Tottenham continue their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League and progress in the Europa League, the news of Dominic Solanke’s extended layoff serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead. Spurs fans will be hoping for a swift recovery for their talismanic striker and that the team can rally in his absence to maintain their push for success on multiple fronts.
