Injury Woes Plague Tottenham as Bergvall Faces Extended Absence

In a recent report by The Athletic, it has been revealed that Bergvall has suffered a high ankle sprain during Tottenham Hotspur’s victory over German giants Borussia Dortmund at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While the specifics regarding the duration of Bergvall’s absence remain undisclosed by The Athletic, the BBC reports that there are concerns within Spurs that the midfielder may be sidelined for as long as three months.

The 19-year-old midfielder was initially named in the starting lineup for the match against Dortmund, but was forced to leave the pitch after picking up the injury during a challenge in the second half. This setback comes shortly after Bergvall had returned to the squad following a three-game absence in November due to a concussion. He also missed the Premier League draw with Brentford on New Year’s Day, as well as the FA Cup third-round defeat against Aston Villa nine days later.

Tottenham head coach Frank confirmed that Bergvall is currently being evaluated by the club’s medical team to assess the severity of the injury. He expressed concerns that it may lead to a lengthy recovery period, stating, “Unfortunately, Lucas picked up an ankle injury; he keeps being very unlucky with injuries, and it looks like it could be a longer one. He is being assessed for these two days, and we will know more about the timeframe in the next couple of days.”

This injury news further exacerbates Tottenham’s ongoing struggles with player fitness, as several key players—including James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, Dejan Kulusevski, Ben Davies, and Rodrigo Bentancur—are currently sidelined.

Additionally, midfielder Joao Palhinha has missed the last two matches against Dortmund in the Champions League and West Ham United in the league due to a training-related injury.

In response to these challenges, Tottenham has bolstered its midfield with the signing of Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid, who made his debut against West Ham. Furthermore, the club announced the acquisition of left-back Souza from Brazilian side Santos, with the 19-year-old committing to a long-term contract in north London.

In a statement on the club’s official website, Souza remarked, “It’s an incredible feeling to join a really big club in Spurs. I grew up watching the Premier League, so this is a childhood dream for me, and I can’t wait to get going. This is a big step in my development. The Premier League is very different from what I’m used to in Brazil, and I’m really looking forward to this challenge and being part of the squad here.”

Manager Frank added, “I’m really pleased to add Souza to our squad. He is a talented and promising young full-back, who is forward-thinking and technically very skilled. I’m looking forward to working with him and helping develop his potential, as we believe we have acquired one of the brightest left-back talents in the world, who can contribute now and in the future.”

Tottenham will return to action this Saturday when they face Burnley in the league, a match that will see them up against their former player and current Clarets manager, Scott Parker. The recent victory over Dortmund has alleviated some pressure on the beleaguered Spurs manager, who has faced criticism amid a disappointing run of form that has seen the club drop to 14th place in the league.

Despite their challenging position in the Premier League, Tottenham is currently fifth in the Champions League standings, positioning themselves to qualify for the knockout phase. They will travel to Eintracht Frankfurt for their final fixture in the league phase of Europe’s premier club competition, with the Bundesliga side struggling in 33rd place after losing five of their seven matches.