Tottenham Hotspur will be closely monitoring Luka Vuskovic, who suffered a knee injury in training earlier this month.
Hamburg sporting director Claus Costa has provided an update on Luka Vuskovic. The Tottenham Hotspur loanee suffered a knee injury in training earlier this month, and he's missed each of the German outfit's last two games.
Hamburg had only conceded seven goals in their previous five Bundesliga matches with Vuskovic in the backline. But since the Croatia international has been sidelined with a slight ligament strain, they've let in just as many in only two games.
Speaking to German outlet Bild ahead of Hamburg's clash against Hoffenheim on Saturday, April 25, Claus Costa outlined the challenges of managing the teenager's injury. The sporting director said: "A knee sprain or contusion causes internal bleeding.
"This makes it difficult to control the knee precisely and correctly. That’s something that takes time. Of course, we miss Luka. Because he’s not on the pitch, he’s somewhat sidelined."
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The Hamburg chief continued: "We have to be patient and wait until he’s available again. I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to play again this season.
"If he’s fit to play, nothing can stop him. He’s extremely ambitious and desperately wants to play for us again. That’s why we’re confident."
According to Bild, the joint in Vuskovic's knee was 'more severely damaged' than originally thought, preventing him from beginning any individual rehabilitation work on the grass. However, Sportske Novosti, a newspaper in Croatia, later downplayed concerns, claiming the centre-back was due a break, having clocked well over 2,000 minutes this season.
Then, local outlet Hamburger Abendblatt reported that the final decision on a return to action would rest with the Lilywhites due to a clause in the loan agreement. Ultimately, football.london understands that Spurs will make the final call.
Vuskovic has featured 25 times in the German top flight this season, scoring five goals from centre-back. The Croatian has helped the newly promoted outfit distance themselves from a relegation scrap, with seven points separating them from the bottom two.
Since joining Hamburg, Vuskovic has established himself as one of the most promising young players in Europe, earning great praise from the likes of Lothar Matthaus, Vincent Kompany, and Luka Modric. Naturally, the 19-year-old defender has been linked with moves to several top clubs, but he's under contract with Tottenham until June 2030.
In an interview with German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung earlier this month, Vuskovic provided an update on his future. On one day playing with his brother, Mario, who was given a four-year ban from football in November 2022 for a doping offence, he said: "In football, you never know.