Ange Postecoglou had words of encouragement for Lucas Bergvall after revealing that the young midfielder looks likely to miss the remainder of the season with an ankle injury.
Ange told the media at Hotspur Way on Friday that the Sweden international had tweaked ankle ligaments in an innocuous incident on his own in training on Wednesday.
That forced him out of Thursday night's UEFA Europa League semi-final, first leg against Bodo/Glimt and, unfortunately, Ange reports that the injury 'is significant enough to probably keep him out now for the rest of the season'.
It's a huge blow for Lucas, who has impressed everyone in his first season. Still only 19, he's featured in 45 of our 54 matches in all competitions and, until the semi-final, was our only ever-present in the UEL, featuring in all 12 matches up to Thursday night. He signed a new deal to 2031 as recently as Wednesday.
Speaking to the media, Ange was asked how Lucas may react to the news. "He's hugely disappointed. There's not much you can say, except that every experience in life and football makes you stronger, makes you appreciate what you have and he's got an unbelievable career ahead of him, for sure.
"I say to the guys all the time, we've got to take what's before us now. We can all assume that it will happen next year or the year after but you just don't know, sometimes life works in mysterious ways and it's denied Lucas the opportunity to play in a massive game last night.
"He's been a massive contributor for us, but I've no doubt he'll come back stronger. Sometimes, you look at footballers and their careers and we think they've got it all good, but every player has to go through setbacks at different times for different reasons and it's all part of what makes them stronger and allows them grow, and I'm sure that will be the case with Lucas."