Tottenham Hotspur winger Dejan Kulusevski has now backed Ashley Phillips to step up for the club in the wake of heavy unavailability.
Kulusevski was talking via football.london following the Chelsea game and declared that Phillips is ready for Tottenham.
The winger thought that there wasn’t a player in Ange Postecoglou’s training sessions at Spurs that wasn’t prepared to play.
And given just how many defenders will be ruled out for the side, it certainly bodes well.
Kulusevski said: “Yeah probably he is ready.
“It is the coach that decides that, but I think every player is unbelievable in the training.
“Everybody is ready, everybody wants to play and it is so high level the training. So, if he will be called, he will be ready.”
One of Tottenham’s new absentees, Cristian Romero, has been backed by his manager Postecoglou who hailed him as ‘world class’ after yesterday’s defeat.
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Despite many perceiving that Romero cost Spurs the game, Ange decided to back the defender who has been brilliant for him otherwise.
And given Micky van de Ven will also be missing, a player spotted on crutches when leaving the stadium, a new centre-back partnership will be needed.
Kulusevski is confident that Phillips is ready for Tottenham
Although Ben Davies is a candidate, fitness dependent, it seems as if Eric Dier and Phillips is the most likely duo.
Dier stepped into the side quite admirably last night and showed little evidence of his lack of football.
And if Spurs were still considering the possibility of Dier leaving in January, they may now be better advised.
Dier’s experience could now be crucial in helping Phillips make his first steps in the senior team.
And it certainly bodes well that Kulusevski is confident that his Tottenham teammate Phillips can make the step up.
Postecoglou’s team travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers this weekend – which has already proved a tough venue for many.
And given the form of Hwang Hee-chan, a player Tottenham were interested in this summer, Spurs’ makeshift defence will certainly be tested.
It’s going to be a tough period as a whole for Spurs, but it could prove to be one that brings this team even closer together.