Could Nabil Bentaleb Make an Appearance for Tottenham Against West Ham United?
Will a recent injury scare prevent Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Nabil Bentaleb, from playing against London rivals, West Ham United, in the Premier League on Sunday, November 22nd?
Before going away on international duty, Mauricio Pochettino had the right to be worried about Nabil Bentaleb’s health. It’s one thing to claim that you feel healthy or fit. But it’s another thing to be fit for matches after recently coming back from injury. The last time that Bentaleb had played in a competitive match was against Everton on August 29 in the Premier League. Nearly three months ago.
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Following the Everton game, the Algerian midfielder would be sidelined with an ankle ligament injury according to the London Evening Standard and miss Tottenham’s next 13 games in all competitions. Since his injury, and the 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting it was a surprise to the 20-year-old Bentaleb selected to join Algeria’s squad.
A couple of things to take note of was the simple fact that Mauricio Pochettino hadn’t cleared Nabil Bentaleb to play for Tottenham yet. Therefore, how was Bentaleb deemed fit to take part in Algeria’s two World Cup qualifiers against Tanzania?
Secondly, after the announcement was made from Algeria’s head coach, Christian Gourcuff, it wasn’t actually 100 percent certain that Bentaleb would have played, because you know, his ankle injury. Well it turns out, he did play.
Bentaleb was a second half sub in Algeria’s first leg match against Tanzania following halftime. He would go onto play the rest of the game for 45 minutes. Which is a lot for a player who hadn’t played for so long. Thankfully though, Nabil Bentaleb didn’t suffer any injuries, let alone to his supposedly healed ankle.
So with one game done and one more left to play during the international break, Bentaleb looked fine: he played 45 minutes, he didn’t re-injure his ankle and he didn’t suffer any new injuries. What could possibly go wrong from here on out?
Unfortunately, during Algeria’s second leg against Tanzania this past Tuesday, Nabil Bentaleb was subbed out of the game in the 37th minute. He couldn’t finish the first half, due to a worrying concern by his team.
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According to the London Evening Standard, they believe that Nabil Bentaleb’s long injury lay-off played a part in being taken out of the game so quickly. But according to Algerian FA sources, Bentaleb was removed from the game due to a yellow card he received in the 28th minute.
Early substitutions happen in games because of injury — or a precautionary measure if an injury might have happened. Therefore it’s not very often that players are removed from a game because of an early booking.
Granted, a 28th minute yellow card isn’t good, ever, in any game. But generally speaking players are kept on the pitch until at least 60+ minutes have passed before coming out if the player in question has already been cautioned.
Anyways, whatever Christian Gourcuff’s decision may have been, perhaps he was looking out for Nabil Bentaleb’s health and Tottenham’s best interests. It could have been a combination of an early booking and a long injury lay-off. Who knows.
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In the end though, a recent injury scare, only playing 82 combined minutes in two World Cup qualifying matches and a nearly three month, 13-game lay-off doesn’t bode too well for the 20-year-old’s chances of suiting up against West Ham United.
If Nabil Bentaleb wants to play this Sunday, he could see some minutes as a late second half sub. But more than likely, he’ll play in Tottenham’s Europa League match against Qarabağ FK so that Eric Dier gets some rest ahead of another big London derby with Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Sunday, November 29.