Spurs boss Thomas Frank could be left short of midfield options when taking on Arsenal on Sunday.
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Tottenham Hotspur have been handed an injury update on the knock picked up by midfielder Pape Matar Sarr on international duty ahead of the North London derby against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Spurs manager Thomas Frank is a big fan of the Senegal international, praising the midfielder early in his tenure and using the player in all but one Premier League match this season. Sarr played 90 minutes against Chelsea and Manchester United and was likely to start at the Emirates Stadium.
However, it appears that Frank may have to do without the 23-year-old for his first North London derby. Sarr picked up an injury when playing for Senegal against Brazil on Saturday and was forced off early in the second half.
Pape Matar Sarr injury update
Speaking after the match, Senegal boss Pape Thiaw said that the knock was not a ‘big deal’ and that Sarr had only been removed from action as a precaution. Those words were favourable to a speedy Tottenham Hotspur return but that may not be the case.
Sarr has now not travelled with his Senegal teammates to Turkey for the match against Kenya on Tuesday night. The player has instead stayed in London, having picked up the injury at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Thiaw said: “We left him in London. He took a knock. So we felt it would be difficult for him to recover in just two days.
“Since we were in his home city, we preferred to leave him at the disposal of his club so he could receive treatment there.”
Thomas Frank short of Tottenham Hotspur midfield options
The problem picked up by Sarr is clearly more serious than first suggested by Thiaw with a recovery period needed. That makes the midfielder a big doubt to face Arsenal on Sunday in a significant blow for Frank.
Speaking about Sarr this summer, after the player scored in a 1-0 pre-season win over Arsenal, the Spurs boss said: “It’s so far the goal of the season! It was great. I know he won Player of the Match and, for me, he was Player of the Match. He took it (the goal) so well and so quickly, saw David Raya was too far out of his goal and put it away.
“By the way, I think Pape has been amazing. I really like how he has played and performed in the last four weeks, training and in games. He’s building, and his all-round game today... top.”
Sarr’s absence comes while fellow midfielder Lucas Bergvall struggles to shake off the effects of a concussion sustained against Chelsea and with James Maddison as a long term injury. Archie Gray is also sidelined with a calf injury, leaving Frank short of options to deploy against Arsenal.
In other news, Tottenham eye transfer windfall as Leeds United linked with £25m Ivan Toney alternative.