Tottenham Hotspur are highly unlikely to turn the tide against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, but they will do their best to fight hard and push for an unforgettable victory. As last season taught everyone, success can happen even when you least expect it.
And Tottenham are getting two big boosts to their defense ahead of both the Atleti matchup and the even bigger weekend relegation six pointer against familiar foes Nottingham Forest in the Ange Postecoglou Derby.
According to Tottenham manager Igor Tudor, via The Spurs Web, Destiny Udogie is back one game earlier than expected from another lengthy spell on the sidelines with injury, as he will be available on the bench as a backup option at left back for, presumably, either Souza or Djed Spence.
Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero are back
Meanwhile and arguably better yet, captain Cristian Romero will be back, too. He suffered a concussion and had to miss the club's last game, so it is massive for the Argentinian international to be back in contention again, especially with the club's other star center back Micky van de Ven struggling in this relegation fight.
Tottenham Hotspur had to start Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin last weekend against Liverpool with Van de Ven suspended and Romero injured with the concussion. Van de Ven will still be suspended against Nottingham Forest after the red card in the previous weekend against Crystal Palace, so Romero being 100 percent is an even bigger develoment than usual.
Danso was tremendous against Liverpool and is an easy choice to start next to Romero, while Dragusin, despite showing heart, was clearly nowhere near Tottenham caliber, particularly in terms of his security on the ball.
Udogie being 100 percent cannot come soon enough either. He should be able to start by the time Tottenham face Nottingham Forest over the weekend, and they could not get a more important boost against a Nottingham Forest winger duo that is more talented than many think. The Italian international is by far and away the club's best left back option, and that's even true if you are high on the talent of young Brazilian Souza, who looks like he could be an even more special fullback in the future than Udogie is today.
Tottenham need all hands on deck for this relegation fight, so it is wonderful news that their two best players in the back four, Udogie and Romero, are getting healthier.