Team news: Hugo Lloris a doubt due to illness, but Toby Alderweireld is close to a return

On November 1st, Tottenham beat Real Madrid 3-1 in the Champions League group stage. It was a glorious win, but there were worries about the toll the victory had taken. Toby Alderweireld came off with a hamstring injury in the 24th minute and hasn’t played since.

Alderweireld is widely considered to be one of the best center-backs in the Premier League, but Spurs actually fared quite well in his absence. Jan Vertonghen and Davinson Sanchez stepped up in his stead, but now, according to Mauricio Pochettino, Toby is set to return just before a crucial period of fixtures.

A report in Belgian said Toby Alderweireld could be back training next week?

Next week? I think they are not right. Maybe today if all is ok with him then tomorrow he can integrate himself in some exercise with the group and a little bit step by step build his fitness to be available again. Tomorrow, but if all is ok with scan today.

You must be pleased to have him back?

Yes, I am very pleased when the players that are injured and you can see at the end are in their preparation to return like Harry Winks or in this case, Toby or Danny Rose. I think every manager wants all their players fit and available to select. That is the most important thing. We have a very busy period ahead and we need all the team fit and available to play.

Toby being back is great news! Spurs were an injury away from having a personnel crisis on their back line. They’ll need to be at their best with fixtures coming up soon against Manchester United, Liverpool, Juventus, and Arsenal.

Pochettino also mentioned in his press conference that Hugo Lloris is a doubt for Sunday’s match with Southampton.

Will Hugo Lloris be fit to play on Sunday?

I don’t know. Difficult to say. We need to wait today and tomorrow and then assess him tomorrow and if he’s available or not.

What is it?

I think it’s a flu or a virus. It’s between this. I think everyone, with this weather, apart from today’s fantastic weather, has struggled a little bit. It’s an epidemic across Europe not just here in the UK.

Hugo’s sickness could mean that Michel Vorm will get the start in goal for the first time in the Premier League this season. Paulo Gazzaniga famously stepped in and produced an impressive clean sheet against Crystal Palace when both Lloris and Vorm were unavailable for a moment in November.

Spurs handled Southampton 5-2 when they played in December. Hopefully this game will be similarly lopsided so that it doesn’t even matter who Tottenham have in goal.

Thankfully, this is a minor issue for Lloris. If he misses this weekend he will probably get a break against Newport County too, but then he should be back for a massive game against Manchester United on January 31st.