Ange Postecoglou has explained where his thinking lies with both Eric Dier and Ashley Phillips as Tottenham look to deal with having their defence torn apart by injuries and suspension.
One player who will now return to the fore amid those absences is Eric Dier, who played his first minutes of the season after entering the fray from the bench and impressing on Monday night. He also volleyed home a strike in the second half that would have levelled the game for Spurs’ nine men, only to be adjudged marginally offside.
The England international’s contract is running out at the club and with no sign of a new contract or a move away in the summer, there were questions over whether the centre-back would play any part under Postecoglou.
However, the Australian has kept the 29-year-old as part of his squad and instead decided to sell Davinson Sanchez in September.
“I don’t feel the need… irrespective of a player’s individual situation and they’re all in different situations, unless a player expressly says to me or desires he wants to leave and I know his head space is somewhere else, I don’t see any reason to separate him from the group because they’re part of our football club,” said Postecoglou.
However, the Australian has kept the 29-year-old as part of his squad and instead decided to sell Davinson Sanchez in September.
“I don’t feel the need… irrespective of a player’s individual situation and they’re all in different situations, unless a player expressly says to me or desires he wants to leave and I know his head space is somewhere else, I don’t see any reason to separate him from the group because they’re part of our football club,” said Postecoglou.
