Dejan Kulusevski expects 18-year-old to step up after Tottenham injuries

Dejan Kulusevski thinks summer signing Ashley Phillips is ready to step up and deliver for the first team after the injury to Micky van de Ven.

While there is no official confirmation regarding the severity of Van de Ven’s injury, the signs were not good on Monday night, with Ange Postescolgou admitting that the Dutchman’s injury looks ‘significant’ (Football.London).

To compound matters, Cristian Romero is also suspended for Tottenham’s next three matches against Wolves, Aston Villa and Manchester City after picking up a straight red card against Chelsea.

Eric Dier produced a battling display in what was his first appearance of the season against the Blues but it remains to be seen who will partner the Englishman at centre-back.

Will Ashley Phillips be thrown in at the deep end?

While some might have expected Postecoglou to turn to Ben Davies, the Welshman would perhaps be required to play at left-back against Wolves, with Destiny Udogie also suspended for the trip to Molineux Stadium on Saturday.

When asked if Phillips is ready to step up, Kulusevski told Football.London: ”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.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There is no doubt that losing both Romero and Van de Ven at the same time is a huge blow for Tottenham and opposition teams will now fancy their chances of getting in behind our backline, given how high we defend.

I do not expect Postecoglou to start Phillips or Alfie Dorrington against Wolves. I believe he will start Emerson Royal at left-back and play Davies alongside Dier in central defence.