Journalist drops key Tottenham injury update
By Manuel Meza
Tottenham's young defender, Alfie Dorrington, is gearing up for a slow and steady return to action after a tough stretch on the sidelines. The promising centre-back has been out since January, dealing with ongoing hamstring troubles that have unfortunately stalled his progress at a key stage in his budding career.
Dorrington, a product of Tottenham's academy, has been regarded as one of the club’s most promising defensive talents. Last season, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou, the 19-year-old was regularly involved in first-team training sessions and was even named in the matchday squad for 10 Premier League fixtures. However, despite this recognition, he has yet to make his senior debut for the club. Instead, Dorrington played a key role in Tottenham's U21 side, helping them to a successful campaign that culminated in lifting the Premier League 2 trophy.
The young defender's progress, however, was cruelly interrupted by two separate hamstring injuries. According to Tottenham Hotspur insider Alasdair Gold, who provided an update during a recent Q&A session on football.london, these injuries significantly disrupted Dorrington's momentum. The first injury occurred earlier in the season, and while he managed to recover initially, a second injury in May required surgery, setting him back further. Gold explained:
"Alfie suffered two hamstring injuries last season that hampered his development. He’s only just returned to training following the second injury in May, which required surgery, and is yet to play this season."
Journalist drops key Tottenham injury update
For a young player looking to break into the senior team, such setbacks can be frustrating. However, the club is taking a cautious approach to Dorrington's recovery, ensuring that he is reintroduced gradually to avoid any further complications. Gold noted that Dorrington is expected to ease back into competitive matches as September progresses, with the hope that by October, he will be back to full fitness and ready to contribute more regularly:
"He is expected to be gradually introduced back into matches as this month progresses before hitting his stride again in October as the games come thick and fast. He may well end up getting minutes in Europe with the lack of cover in the months ahead."
With Tottenham's hectic fixture list looming, Dorrington's return might prove timely. The club has had some worries over defensive depth, especially with injuries and a shortage of seasoned cover. As Gold pointed out, there's a chance Dorrington could get some minutes in European matches if the situation calls for it.