Ange Postecoglou: Is Tottenham manager’s style causing Spurs injury crisis?

PremierInjuries.com ranked Tottenham as having the third highest volume of separate injuries (21) up to 15 January, with the second highest days lost to injury (655) this season. Brighton were first with 23 injuries costing 914 days.

“At Celtic after six months Postecoglou could rotate the front five at 65 or 65 minutes to keep the freshness for the 60-game season,” reflected McElhone.

“At Tottenham he’s probably found that a lot more difficult because I don’t think the strength in depth is the same as other Premier League clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea.

“Look at the evolution at Celtic under Postecoglou, we had a three-month period of sustaining injuries every week, mostly hamstring injuries. We had to get to the winter break to reset.”

“As the players adapted to the demands of the system, the game fluctuation changed rather than that constant ‘basketball’ up and down the pitch, the team was able to control one half of the pitch more. So that stopped the centre-backs having to run in behind as often.

“As the game model and philosophy settled, that reduced injuries.

“At the moment, that is the problem at Tottenham. He has not got the squad.

“They have had a change of medical staff in the background in the last year as well, on top of all the other issues.”