Tottenham have confirmed that Jose Mourinho will make a late decision on the fitness of Giovani Lo Celso ahead of Sunday afternoon’s meeting with Everton.
This summer has been brutal for Lo Celso. The 24-year-old was playing through pain from a groin injury during the tail-end of last season and has since picked up a hamstring problem too.
What’s the latest on Lo Celso injury?
Lo Celso has not been fit for months, missing our pre-season friendlies with Ipswich Town (August 22), Reading (August 28), Birmingham City (August 29) and Watford (September 5), so it would be a big call from Jose to throw him straight in.
The 24-year-old has made a total of 37 appearances in all competitions since coming to North London last summer, scoring two goals with three assists. He can operate out wide and in a central midfield role, so he’d be a loss on Sunday.
In 2019/20, Lo Celso made 28 Premier League appearances, created 29 chances, completed 85% of his 965 passes, made 32/51 successful dribbles, blocked 22 shots/passes/crosses, made 17 clearances and made 51 tackles.
Who can Mourinho call upon in midfield?
If Lo Celso misses out against Everton, we still have Harry Winks, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele, Moussa Sissoko, Dele Alli, Gedson Fernandes and Eric Dier to choose from, so we’re not short of options.
Last season, Winks amassed more playing time (3074) in all competitions than any other central midfielder. Sissoko was second (2873). Winks and Sissoko were a familiar partnership in 2019/20, but the former has missed a couple of friendlies and was withdrawn from the England national team in August, so he may not be available.
Mourinho may want to see Hojbjerg in action as he’s fit to face Everton, so our new-boy may get the nod alongside Sissoko. Regardless of personnel, however, we took four points off Everton last season, so we’ll go into Sunday’s opener as favourites.
Summary
Mourinho could be without Lo Celso and Winks for Sunday’s clash with Everton, so Hojbjerg has a chance of making his full debut. Ndombele could make a surprise return to the starting eleven too, as Mourinho admitted the midfielder has been working hard in training. Thankfully, we have plenty of options.
In other news, Japhet Tanganga has been ruled out against Everton due to injury 9am