To begin with, Tottenham Hotspur were hit with a ludicrous injury crisis. After the win over Manchester City in November, it was confirmed that first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario would be out “for months”, after an ankle injury he suffered in the game.
Then we saw Ben Davies pick up an injury in the defeat away to AFC Bournemouth. Three days later, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero picked up injuries at home to Chelsea, having both just returned from their previous injuries. All three are not expected back until the end of the month.
Since then, we saw Radu Dragusin pick up an injury against Nottingham Forest, but be forced to play through it three days later vs Wolves, a game where Destiny Udogie picked up an injury of his own, which will keep him out for at least six weeks, and potentially up to ten.
Throughout all of this, Spurs have been without their back up for Dominic Solanke in Richarlison, who had returned from injury against Aston Villa, got an assist, and re injured himself in the process. That day, the 3rd of November, was also the last time we saw Mikey Moore.
Then, just to somehow make things twice as worse, a sickness bug began to go around the first team squad. It was reported earlier that Fraser Forster, Archie Gray, Radu Dragusin, and James Maddison have fallen ill this week.
Brandon Austin set to make his unexpected Tottenham debut
This marries up with a report from talkSPORT, who have suggested that Forster will not feature against his boyhood club Newcastle United tomorrow lunchtime, and that Brandon Austin — at 25 – is set to make his first ever competitive appearance for the Tottenham Hotspur first team instead.
Back in 2015, Austin joined the club from Chelsea, but has had to wait until now for his opportunity in the first team. His only experience of first team football was a loan spell at Danish side Viborg FF in 2019, and MLS side Orlando City in 2021 — with a combined 19 appearances across both loan spells.
There is one thing being thrown into your unexpected debut with a back four of an on form; Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie— but with the beyond makeshift back four that will be wheeled out tomorrow, well, talk about being thrown straight into the deep end.
Poor fella. Get through tomorrow’s game with no more injuries or suspensions and it will almost feel like a win no matter what the score is.