Ange Postecoglou confirms Dominic Solanke injury timeline in major blow for Tottenham | OneFootball

Spurs crisis continues with star forward facing over a month out of action

Ange Postecoglou has revealed Dominic Solanke will be sidelined for around six weeks with a knee injury sustained in training last week, increasing Tottenham's need for new signings this month.

After Sunday's defeat to Everton, which the England forward missed, Postecoglou suggested Solanke would be out for "a few weeks" but the head coach provided a fresh update following Spurs' 3-2 win over Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday.

"All the information now is kind of we're looking at around the six-week mark for him," Postecoglou told reporters in Germany. "No surgery but maybe we can get him back a little bit earlier, we'll just see how he progresses, but at this stage it's only around six weeks."

Solanke should have returned to fitness in time to be included in Thomas Tuchel's first England camp, with the head coach set to take charge of his opening game against Albania in World Cup qualifying on March 21, but is set to miss a series of crucial matches for Spurs.

The summer signing from Bournemouth was one of 10 senior players missing through injury for Postecoglou against Hoffenheim, with the visitors ending the game with five teenagers on the pitch.

Big blow: Dominic Solanke will miss a significant period of time for Tottenham

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The head coach has repeatedly called for new signings in the transfer market but admitted before the game that Spurs may not add to their squad before the February 3 deadline.

“These players are exhausted," Postecoglou said. "They’re professional footballers who are just 24-7 just trying to recover right now, all of them, and they’re giving everything.

“It shouldn’t be dismissed that we’re a Premier League outfit playing in an away game in Europe, and we’ve got five teenagers out there. It’s pretty much unheard of in an important game, not a dead rubber. And that goes to show you the load these guys are are willing to take on themselves without making excuses.”

Richarlison played up front in Germany, making his second start of the season as goals from James Maddison and a Heung-min Son double earned Spurs a much-needed win.