Four Spurs players reported to be ill | OneFootball

The current injury crisis that Tottenham Hotspur are enduring is very well documented. It's like something you have never seen before. Their three first choice central defenders, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Ben Davies are set to miss at least the vast majority of the packed January schedule. First choice keeper Guglielmo Vicario is expected to be back in February or March.

Then, first choice left-back Destiny Udogie picked up an injury, which will rule him out for at least six weeks. Oh, and third choice central defender Davies is also Udogie's deputy at left-back. So there is that. Oh yeah, and other left-back option, Djed Spence, is not registered for the Europa League until the knockout stages.

In attack, Mikey Moore has been ill for two months, whilst Richarlison has barely kicked a ball. As a result, the likes of Heung-Min Son and Dominic Solanke have been used like a bar of soap, and are running on empty.

So, it cannot get any worse - can it? Well, Ange confirmed that there has been a sickness bug within the squad, and a report has now suggested that Fraser Forster, Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, and James Maddison have been ill. The report also says that "Forster is not nailed on to play tomorrow."

Spurs potentially without another four players on Saturday

Perhaps this is clutching at desperate straws, but perhaps name dropping Forster as not a guarantee to play, means that the others are? Admittedly a bit of wishful thinking though. Even just that feels like a bit of a nightmare, as dodgy as he has been at times. 25-year old Brandon Austin has never played a senior, competitive game in his career.

Furthermore, the ever reliable Paul O Keefe, who fans often go to for news regarding Spurs, was asked if there was any truth to this, in which he responded: "I'm avoiding this place when the team drops tomorrow. Happy new year." Which may just about tell you everything.

Imagine if those four players are genuinely all unavailable for the game against Newcastle United? In the absence of Maddison, Spurs could play Pape Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski as the two number eights. That doesn't feel too bad, although it would be a crying shame for Maddison personally, with new England manager Thomas Tuchel set to be in attendance.

At the back, though. Wow. Yves Bissouma had been a player who some had suggested could fill in at centre-back, but with Rodrigo Bentancur suspended, he will be needed in midfield. Alfie Dorrington, who made his debut at Southampton, will surely be one to come in. But who next to him? Youngster Dante Cassanova was on the bench for the defeat at Galatasaray, perhaps him.

Never, ever seen anything like this. Every club has had a depleted squad at some point before, but to this extent is just absolutely insane.