Thomas Frank has Tottenham plan for Radu Dragusin as injury timeline emerges
Radu Dragusin was among a wealth of Tottenham players to suffer an injury last season.
The Romania international certainly fell into the more serious category after sustaining an ACL ligament tear against Elfsborg in January.
There has been talk that Dragusin could soon be available for Spurs, given that it has been almost eight months since his injury.
Now, Frank must be careful about planning how best to integrate Dragusin back into his squad.
This article includes exclusive opinion from injury expert Dr Rajpal Brar, a doctor in physical therapy and a sports scientist.
Thomas Frank won’t rush Radu Dragusin back after injury
Dragusin may wonder when his Tottenham chance will come under Frank, given that he is competing with some quality players.
However, as the Lilywhites discovered last season, injuries can pave the way for unlikely opportunities in North London.
First, though, the 23-year-old will be focused on returning to full fitness after a significant injury layoff.
Now, Dr Rajpal Brar – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that the North London club’s staff won’t risk rushing him back into action.
“Typically, in elite football, the timeframe is around 7-9 months for return to sport after ACL rupture, so Dragusin’s timeframe would be within that typical timeframe,” he said.
“Frank, along with the coaching and physio staff, will be very mindful of his minutes and match intensity as this is a major injury that requires a methodical and gradual minutes allocation, particularly on the mental side of things.“
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What must happen for Radu Dragusin to get Tottenham chance?
Amid all the transfer activity during the summer window, Dragusin may have worried about his Tottenham place.
However, the 23-year-old has shown enough during his short Spurs career to suggest he has a future in North London.
Dragusin built on his early performances for the Lilywhites and was a consistent fixture under Ange Postecoglou in the absence of Micky Van de Ven.
- Tottenham paid just over £25million for Dragusin
- He has made 37 appearances for Spurs
- Made 16 Premier League appearances last term before his season-ending injury
With Van de Ven and Cristian Romero fully fit, they are Frank’s undisputed centre-back pairing, meaning that he will find opportunities limited.
The Romanian should not worry, though, as with Tottenham fighting on all fronts this season, there will be occasions when his manager rotates.
Furthermore, Dragusin has demonstrated that he is adaptable and could play as a full-back if necessary.
Having Van de Ven and Romero fit should only be a positive for the centre-back now, so that he can fully recover from his injury.
Then, when the time comes, the defender must show Frank why he is worthy of a chance.
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