Dominic Solanke availability update ahead of Bournemouth v Tottenham. Credit: Imago

Solanke update emerges ahead of Bournemouth v Tottenham, Ange will be worried

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

Published on:

04 Dec 2024, 6:10 am

Dominic Solanke's absence was clearly felt by Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham drew 1-1 with Fulham on Sunday.

The striker arrived with the Spurs squad ahead of their clash with the Cottagers on 1 December but was sent home early due to an illness, seeing Son Heung-min take up the striker position.

While Brennan Johnson opened the scoring after 54 minutes, giving Postecoglou's side a much-needed lead, Tom Cairney's equaliser just 13 minutes later meant the points were shared.

Spurs may have been lucky to walk away with a draw, given that their xG of 0.78 was outnumbered by Fulham's 1.58xG [FotMob], showing just how much they missed Solanke and they may have to continue without him.

Speaking to the media [The Athletic], Postecoglou said: "Dom [Solanke] is due to train today so he is still not 100 per cent but he has definitely improved from the weekend."

Dominic Solanke's Tottenham absence to continue v Bournemouth?

With back-to-back draws against AS Roma and Fulham in the Europa League and Premier League, Postecoglou will be crying out for his star striker to return with a bang.

While the 27-year-old has only scored in spurts, notching four goals and two assists in the league so far, his all-round play is far more important to the team than many realise.

Despite not scoring in the 4-0 win over Manchester City last month, the forward maintained a 100 per cent shot accuracy, claimed an assist, entered into nine ground duels and created two big chances [FotMob].

Ange Postecoglou is in his second season at Tottenham [Credit: Imago].

His best display of the campaign so far came during the 4-1 win over Aston Villa, scoring twice with a 75 per cent shot accuracy, entering into a total of 10 ground and aerial duels and winning one tackle [FotMob].

With a top 86 percentile ranking for successful take-ons and a top 70 percentile for progressive carries [FBref], Solanke is crucial to the way Spurs play and Postecoglou will be gutted if he is unavailable again.

In other Tottenham news, Richard Keys has hit back at what Spurs fans did in a new Postecoglou sack verdict.

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Tottenham

Ange Postecoglou

Bournemouth

Dominic Solanke