Troy Deeney says Tottenham star will be ‘fuming’ at announcement after Europa League win
Tottenham players are gearing up for international football as their Premier League campaign draws to a close, but some of their squad are set for an early holiday.
Spurs are set to end their rollercoaster season on a high in front of their home supporters as they take on Brighton in the final Premier League fixture on Sunday.
The squad may be worse for wear for this fixture after a lengthy parade, but the result will not hugely matter, with Ange Postecoglou possibly giving academy products a chance to celebrate their progress.
Europa League exploits have seen the players carve their name in the history books and elevate their status, although that may not have impressed the England camp.
Dominic Solanke raging at England snub
Thomas Tuchel did not select a single Tottenham player in his latest England squad (23 May), but Dominic Solanke’s exclusion would have hurt the most.
Troy Deeney was not impressed, giving his opinion on talkSPORT straight after the announcement, with Ivan Toney selected instead.
He said, “Solanke can feel very disappointed. Never got any time last time out and obviously just came off a huge win and winning a trophy.”
The former Watford striker added, “It’s an interesting squad, but if I were Solanke, I’d be fuming.”
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Silverware |
| Harry Kane | 46 | 38 | 13 | Bundesliga |
| Ivan Toney | 43 | 29 | 6 | AFC Champions League |
| Ollie Watkins | 53 | 17 | 14 | – |
| Dominic Solanke | 44 | 15 | 8 | Europa League |
The three selected England strikers have hit excellent numbers this season, especially former Spurs player Harry Kane, who also won the Bundesliga Player of the Year award.
On the surface, their statistics may be more impressive than Solanke’s, though his tally will be directly correlated by the fact that his side are currently sitting 17th in the Premier League.
The German manager explained later that day in the press conference that his decision was based on his willingness to trial Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, whom he had not previously selected.
Solanke could benefit from the rest
Tottenham players’ durability has been stretched to its limit this season, with injuries decimating the squad consistently.
Up front, Richarlison‘s inability to stay fit for prolonged periods meant that Solanke has had to play virtually every minute he has been available, despite suffering setbacks himself.
Within Postecoglou’s system, he was expected to lead an ambitious press and run tirelessly on and off the ball, which he did in Bilbao to great success.
Therefore, after an arduous season in which he gave everything he could for the team, Solanke’s omission could be a blessing in disguise.