DOMINIC SOLANKE has been ruled out for “six weeks” with his knee injury worse than first feared.
The England striker, 27, twisted it while taking a shot on his own in training on Saturday.
Ange Postecoglou had initially expected the blow to rule the forward out for “a few weeks” – but that has now been upgraded to a month and a half.
It puts Solanke in a race against time to be fit for the Carabao Cup final on March 16, which Tottenham will be competing in if they can see off Arne Slot’s mighty Liverpool.
He will definitely miss the second leg of their semi-final at Anfield on February 6, into which Spurs take a 1-0 lead thanks to Lucas Bergvall’s goal which Solanke set up in the initial tie.
Postecoglou said: “With Dom, the information now is that we are looking at around the six-week mark. No surgery.
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“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.”
Six weeks from when the injury was sustained would take him until March 1.
That time frame would see the striker miss at least eight matches.
They include Premier League games against Leicester, Brentford, Manchester United, Ipswich and Manchester City.
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The Carabao Cup semi against Liverpool, an FA Cup fourth-round at Aston Villa and next week’s Europa League tie against Elfsborg take place in that period too – plus both play-offs if Spurs somehow fail to finish in the top eight of the European table.
Solanke was the most expensive Premier League signing this summer after joining from Bournemouth for £65million.
The club-record buy has 11 goals in 29 appearances, earning an England recall with his industrious displays.
Solanke was one of FOURTEEN players missing for Spurs, due to injury or ineligibility, for the 3-2 win at Hoffenheim in the Europa League.
It put the North Londoners into fourth spot, one point clear of United in ninth.
A Son Heung-min double and an early James Maddison strike did the business, with the hosts netting through Anton Stach and sub David Mokwa.
Boss Postecoglou added: “I could not speak highly enough of the players carrying us through. They will get some help hopefully soon with some players coming back.
“We are in a real good position in Europe. Get to the knockout rounds home and away, get our players back and we will back ourselves against anyone.
“The fact that these guys have got us to this position — Madders and all the players that have carried us through — credit to them.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
