Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is poised to be without a star duo for even longer than initially feared after a torrid injury update, according to a fresh report.
To make his current injury crisis worse, Frank confirmed left-back Destiny Udogie faces four to five weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during Saturday's humbling Old Trafford defeat.
The Italy international limped off just 55 minutes into the 2-0 capitulation against United, heading straight down the tunnel after receiving treatment on the pitch.
Scans conducted over the weekend revealed a hamstring strain that will rule him out until mid-March, devastating news for a Spurs side already ravaged by absences.
Frank delivered the crushing blow during Monday's pre-match press conference ahead of tonight's Newcastle clash, confirming Udogie joins a staggering casualty list that now features 10 first-team players unavailable.
The 23-year-old will miss crucial Premier League fixtures against Newcastle, Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace whilst becoming a major doubt for their Champions League Round of 16 first leg.
The timing couldn't be worse for Udogie, who only recently returned from a previous hamstring setback suffered in early December.
His stop-start campaign has seen him make just eight Premier League starts and 13 appearances across all competitions, with the club desperately attempting to manage his workload and improve his durability.
His absence leaves Spurs critically short at left-back, with January signing Souza thrust into prominence despite Frank admitting the teenager isn't ready for consistent first-team football.
The Brazilian made his debut off the bench at United, and importantly impressed during difficult circumstances playing a man down.
Frank remains without suspended captain Cristian Romero for four matches following his reckless red card, whilst defensive colleagues Pedro Porro, Kevin Danso and Ben Davies all continue their rehab.
Long-term absentees James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall and Richarlison also remain out, and an update has now come to light on a couple of the aforementioned names.
Frank has already admitted he doesn't know whether Deki in particular will play again this season, but a report from Tipsbladet in Sweden has offered more information in a 'gloomy' update.
According to the outlet and journalist Daniel Kristoffersen, Swedish duo Kulusevski and Bergvall both facing significantly longer spells sidelined than originally anticipated.
Bergvall underwent surgery on a high ankle sprain sustained during January's Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund, with initial fears he'd miss several weeks now confirmed as a devastating two-to-three month absence.
The 20-year-old won't return until around early April, ruling him out of Sweden's crucial World Cup playoff semifinal against Ukraine scheduled for March 26th.
Meanwhile, Kulusevski's complicated knee setback has taken a worrying turn too, with Kulusevski also out for longer than first feared and poised to miss Sweden's play-off as well.
Kristoffersen actually does suggest he could make the bench if Sweden advance to the Play-Off final on March 31, but this is seen as optimistic at best, so it could be a long while yet before Kulusevski or Bergvall don the Lilywhites jersey again.
For Frank, it is another crushing blow as he already wrestles with a severe lack of options ahead of imperative games.