Dele Alli faces a fitness test before Tottenham Hotspur’s visit to West Ham United on Wednesday while Mousa Dembélé could return for Saturday’s north London derby at home to Arsenal.
Alli was hurt when he kicked the ground in the warm-up before Sunday’s 2-1 win over Swansea City at White Hart Lane, although he did get through the 90 minutes. He was seen limping heavily after the game.
Dembélé has been out with a groin injury and he will miss the West Ham match but Mauricio Pochettino suggested the midfielder may have a chance to face Arsenal.
“Dele had a problem before the Swansea game and he suffered during it,” the manager said. “We have to decide. I cannot say nothing. We have to assess him. Mousa is nearly back. Maybe, [it will be] the next game for him. Also, Tom Carroll is back in the squad for West Ham.”
Pochettino has noted the Upton Park pitch is not in the best state but he did not conceal his relish for this week’s derbies.
He said: “You cannot split the emotion. It’s not only three points. It means a lot more than three points. Every derby like West Ham or Arsenal, they are more important for our supporters and we feel the same as them.
“Conditions will be difficult because the pitch is not so good and that can affect us more than them. We need to be strong. If you want to achieve big things, we need to show we are better.”
