Ange Postecoglou offered ray of hope as Ben Davies is ruled out of Tottenham action for ‘four to six weeks’
It is quite incredible how many Tottenham players have picked up long-term injuries at one point or another throughout the 2023/24 campaign.
Ivan Perisic, Manor Solomon, James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Alejo Veliz – and now Ben Davies.
Not only have these players picked up injuries throughout the season, but they have been long-term injuries which have kept these men out for a considerable period, which now looks to be the case for Davies as well.
The Welshman started his tenth consecutive game at the heart of Ange Postecoglou’s defence, helping his side to a clean sheet in the 1-0 win against Burnley in the FA Cup third round at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (5 January).
Davies was immense against Vincent Kompany’s side. As per Sofascore, the Wales international made two clearances, two interceptions and two tackles.
He won 100 per cent of his ground duels (three out of three), and two of his three aerial duels, while he also completed 90 per cent of his passes and played five accurate long balls forward.
However, after the match, disaster struck for the 31-year-old as Postecoglou revealed to the media that Davies appeared to have “done his hamstring,” (Alasdair Gold, 5 January).
Almost a week later, further details have now been provided, and it doesn’t make for good reading for Davies, Postecoglou, or Spurs supporters.
Speaking during his latest YouTube video (10 January), Football London’s Tottenham correspondent Gold revealed that the defender is set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
“Ben Davies, from what I understand, potentially four to six weeks is the kind of timeframe they’re looking at,” Gold explained.
It is a devastating blow for Davies who has impressed in recent weeks with his strong displays and was perhaps beginning to change the perception of himself in North London, transitioning from a fringe player who should be moved on to a reliable squad player who should be kept around at Hotspur Way.
However, despite the setback, Postecoglou and Spurs were offered a ray of hope, as Gold went on to explain, “But what I would say is that Ben Davies is quite a quick healer, from previous kinds of issues he’s had. So, I’m sure he as a player will be looking to come back sooner than that.”
Everyone at Tottenham will certainly hope that he can once again make a quick recovery and return to the squad to continue his impressive run of form.
As per fbref, compared to other centre-backs in England’s top flight this season, Davies ranks in the top six per cent for the number of dribblers he has tackled (1.30 per 90), and the top four per cent for the number of shots he has blocked (1.40 per 90).
He also sits among the top ten per cent of his positional peers for the number of progressive passes he has played (5.79 per 90), and the top seven per cent for the number of those passes which have been into the final third (7.08 per 90).
Davies has proven that he is more than capable of playing for Postecoglou, and has hardly put a foot wrong, while also coming up with some crucial defensive contributions, none more so than his defensive action in the 4-1 win against Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (10 December).
Spurs ended a run of five matches without a win against the Magpies, but had it not been for Davies, things could have gone very differently that afternoon.
As seen in the image above, with just a few minutes on the clock and the score at 0-0, Anthony Gordon got in behind Spurs’ defence which was playing with a characteristic Postecoglou-high line. Through the middle, Davies found himself one-on-one in a foot race with Alexander Isak.
Gordon reached Spurs’ penalty area where he looked to have an easy pass on for Isak who would then have a tap in.
However, Davies had managed to keep up with Isak and anticipated the cross into the box, sliding in to make a vital touch, which saw the ball change direction and deflect off Isak and narrowly wide for a corner.
Had Davies not got a touch on the ball, Isak would have most certainly found the back of the net, and after a five-match winless streak, going behind early could have knocked Tottenham’s confidence and changed the momentum of the match, and perhaps the result.
Football is all about fine margins, and Davies proved in that moment that he is up to the task, as he has so often proven this season while filling in for Micky van de Ven.
From a Spurs perspective, everyone at the club will be wishing the Wales international a speedy recovery.
In other Tottenham news, one Spurs expert has hailed the “remarkable progress” of the club after Daniel Levy sanctioned a sale overnight.