Toby Alderweireld could return for Tottenham Hotspur before Christmas after manager Jose Mourinho revealed his injury was not as bad as first feared.
Alderweireld was replaced towards the end of Spurs’ 2-0 Premier League win over Manchester City on Saturday with Mourinho ruling after the game that the Belgian had suffered a “bad” adductor injury.
With Spurs’ centre-back stocks looking a little light, losing the Belgian for an extended period of time would have been a serious challenge for Tottenham who face 11 games between now and the end of December.
However, speaking before Spurs’ Europa League clash against Ludogorets, Mourinho claims the 31-year-old could be back within 2-4 weeks.
"Toby has a muscular injury but not as big as we initially thought," Mourinho said.
"He will have his time to be out but not like a month, which was immediately what we thought. I'd say between two and four weeks.
"Bad news as he was playing his best football. He is an important player that we miss.
"But we have Davinson Sanchez and not for tomorrow, as he is not in the list, we have Joe Rodon. We fight with what we have."
Based on that time-frame, best-case scenario Alderweireld will return for Spurs’ against Crystal Palace on December 12, assuming he won't be risked for the Europa League tie at Rotal Antwerp on Thursday, December 10.
Worst-case he’ll be fit to face Wolves on Boxing Day or Fulham on December 28. Barring any complications with his recovery, of course.
Davinson Sanchez is expected to line up alongside Eric Dier for Thursday night’s Europa League tie against Ludogorets with Joe Rodon not registered for European competition following his deadline day arrival from Swansea City on October 16.
The Wales international could however come into the reckoning for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea, depending on how Sanchez performs against the Bulgarians.
Sanchez was dropped in the wake of the 3-3 draw against West Brom at the Hawthorns and hasn’t played in Spurs’ last four league games with suspiscion that this could be his last season in north London.
