Having just lost 4-1 and 2-1 to London rivals Arsenal and Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur are facing what is seen widely by the fan base as a must win matchup on Thursday against another local rival in Crystal Palace. Complicating things, though, will be the absence of a key defensive player in Djed Spence, who would have been the projected starting left back with Destiny Udogie himself still injured yet again.
Spence was a late scratch from the lineup on Sunday in the eventual 2-1 loss to the Cottagers, as he has been dealing with a calf injury. Although many Tottenham fans would readily start the young Souza over him at the natural left back position, Tottenham manager Igor Tudor baffingly didn't even start his 19 year old winter transfer with Spence out, instead opting to play Archie Gray out of position there.
In his latest injury update on the squad before Tottenham Hotspur take on Crystal Palace, Tudor confirmed that Spence will not be playing against the Eagles. He is expected to return against Atletico Madrid and Ademola Lookman when Spurs open up their Champions League Round of 16 tie. Via Spurs Global, Tudor specifically said that he hopes Spence will be able to play then. He also refused to give updates on Dejan Kulusevski and Udogie.
Djed Spence is out vs. Crystal Palace
Spence has been a bit of a disappointment this season, though he's had his moments, including once on the left wing. He is a decent defensive player and can pass as a right back, but as a right footed left back, he has been an outright disaster. Spence struggles to progress the ball or support the forwards, so his absence may actually be a blessing in disguise because it should force Souza to play.
Tudor cannot possibly make the mistake of starting someone who isn't a left back at left back for a second game in a row, especially after seeing how well Souza performed at the position when he came on in the second half to give Fulham some life.
Perhaps the continued absence of Spence will end in a positive manner, and while Palace and Brennan Johnson, in particular, could test Spurs and Souza defensively without the Spence Penitentiary on lock down, it is surely much better for the young Brazilian to first face the Johnson test before being thrown into the fire against, say, Atleti. Spence's injury is a tough blow, but it has a silver lining.