Having only just returned from an absence of more than a month due to injury, Tottenham Hotspur standout left back Destiny Udogie was ruled out of this weekend's 1-0 win over Wolves with yet another new ailment, suffering a muscular injury in the 2-2 draw with Brighton. His time table for a return is uncertain, as Djed Spence drew the start in the Premier League battle.
Udogie's latest injury is one of too many to count this season. It seems every time he is out for at least a month, he can only return for two or three games before another soft tissue, upper thigh injury bounces him out again.
There is no questionining the fact that Tottenham are a significantly better team with the Italian international on the pitch. Udogie is leaps and bounds above Spence in all phases. He is much better as a passer, technician, and progressor to support the attack, and as much as Spence loves his memes, Udogie is a more composed and consistent defender, too.
Destiny Udogie might be on the chopping block
And that's what makes this is all so difficult. Because when healthy, Udogie is honestly one of the best left backs in the Premier League. The problem is that he is almost never healthy and is now increasingly difficult for Spurs to rely on. Injuries matter and often hold Tottenham Hotspur back, and it is becoming to a point where the consequences, potential relegation, are so devastating that Spurs have to rethink the number of injury prone players they are relying on their squad.
So Destiny Udogie, through no fault of his own, is at a career cross roads, and giving up on the former Udinese man would not be a popular decision by any means. But it may a move that Spurs management have to make, especially when it comes to making tough cuts in a summer transfer window that will be a difficult one for the Lilywhites, even if they survive rivals West Ham United in this tense Premier League relegation fight.
Tottenham made one smart winter transfer move this year, bringing in highly promising prospect Souza, who has performed very well on the few occasions he has been called on. Souza could be a future star at left back, and he isn't going to be kept on a leash for very long, especially if Spurs bounce down to the Championship. And that will only make Udogie more expendable in the summer transfer market.