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The Dutchman returned to action against Elfsborg in the Europa League last Thursday, playing the first half of the game before a planned substitution to help manage his return from a three-month hamstring injury layoff.
Van de Ven, who missed 22 games during his time on the sidelines, was then a spectator for Spurs’ 2-0 win over Brentford on Sunday, leading many to assume that he’d be guaranteed a start in what is arguably the club’s biggest fixture of the season against Liverpool.
But speaking to reporters in his pre-match press conference, Postecoglou suggested that Van de Ven’s phased return will continue and that could mean another watching brief when Spurs rock up to Anfield on Thursday, defending a 1-0 aggregate lead from the first leg in north London.
“He got through the game [against Elfsborg] no problem but the Premier League is a whole different beast,” Postecoglou said. “But, after losing Radu [Dragusin], I sat down and though about what we had ahead of us still…I feel like we’ve got to be more conservative.
“Don’t get me wrong, we have a couple of massive games this week for sure but we have also afforded ourselves a couple of weeks without midweek fixtures. Beyond that, Europe kicks in, which is massive for us, hopefully we’re in a final in the Carabao Cup, hopefully we’re still in the FA Cup. I just don’t see the sense right now in risking that.
“Having Kevin [Danso] in is a massive bonus for us. He hasn’t reinjured the injury or anything like that. I just feel we need to get more into him, I think he feels he needs to get more into him, same with Romero, so it will just be a wait and see approach.”
Postecoglou must now decide whether to hand new signing Danso his first Tottenham start, or continue with the …
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