Spurs are paying high price as they adapt to 'Ange-ball'

Injury issues an inevitable consequence of high-intensity tactics

- Dan Kilpatrick

THE boost from Rodrigo Bentancur's surprise return to the Tottenham XI on New Year's Eve - some six weeks ahead of schedule - was offset in just half-an-hour, when Pape Sarr was the next of Ange Postecoglou's players to suffer an injury.

As Postecoglou acknowledged after the 3-1 win against Bournemouth, this is "the way our season has gone"; one in, one out. As soon as Spurs get a player back from injury or suspension, they almost immediately lose someone else.

Sarr, who had opened the scoring, was forced off with a hamstring problem and looked devastated, although the 21-year-old was today declared fit enough to be named in Senegal's squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations.

By the end of Sunday's win, which moved Spurs to within a point of fourth-placed Arsenal, substitute Alejo Veliz was also in tears after suffering an injury - cruel timing for the young Argentine ahead of what might have been his first Spurs start against Burnley in the FA Cup on Friday and he left the stadium on crutches and with a brace on his right leg.