Early Wolves team news v Tottenham: Gary O’Neil shares Matheus Cunha injury update
Tottenham could be boosted by the absence of Wolves star Matheus Cunha when the two clubs meet on Saturday 17 February.
Spurs will host Wolves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend as they look to record back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since mid-December.
Ange Postecoglou’s side netted a last-gasp winner via Brennan Johnson on Saturday 10 February as they edged past Brighton with a 2-1 victory in north London.
After Aston Villa’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Villa Park on Sunday 11 February, Spurs find themselves fourth in the Premier League, one point ahead of Unai Emery’s side and six clear of United.
Picking up another three points on Saturday would be a big boost for Postecoglou and his players, and they will be confident of doing just that as they face a Wolves side coming off the back of a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford on Saturday 10 February.
Gary O’Neil will look to pick his side up following the loss but could be without one of his most in-form stars for the visit to the capital.
Cunha limped off against the Bees after just 20 minutes, and speaking after the match O’Neil was unsure of his status.
“With Cunha it’s too early to tell, he felt something in his hamstring. He seems to think he doesn’t feel too bad at this moment. But sometimes it can feel like that and be bad and sometimes they can feel bad and not be too bad,” (The Athletic, 10 February).
Tottenham must take advantage of Wolves injury news
If Cunha is unavailable on Saturday, then Spurs must capitalise.
The Portuguese forward had netted four goals and grabbed one assist in his previous three appearances heading into the clash with Brentford, and his injury that afternoon put a sudden stop to the momentum that he was building.
Cunha ran riot on Sunday 4 February, grabbing a fabulous hattrick as his side put four past Chelsea in a 4-2 win at Stamford Bridge.
As per Sofascore, he scored three goals from his five shots, with four of those on target, winning a penalty which he also converted.
In addition, he completed two dribbles, 81 per cent of his passes, with one of those key, and created one big chance.
He was also a nuisance defensively as he won eight of his 12 ground duels and made one clearance.
His hattrick took his Premier League total to nine goals for the season and six assists, while he also netted in the 2-0 FA Cup win over West Brom at The Hawthorns on Sunday 28 January.
It has been a largely positive season for the former Atletico Madrid man, and speaking back in December his manager was full of praise for him.
“Cunha is an incredible guy with a big heart who wants to do his best for the team,” he told Sky Sports News (22 December).
“If you look at his work rate and the numbers he produces, he works his socks off. It is just then me trying to get him to direct that in the right way.”
Spurs’ back-four will have a much quieter afternoon if the 24-year-old does not make the matchday squad, and Postecoglou will certainly be able to sleep slightly easier the night before.
As per fbref, Cunha ranks in the 99th percentile of Premier League forwards this season for the number of progressive carries he has made (4.27 per 90) and the top three per cent for the number of his take-ons which have been successful (2.39 per 90).
He also ranks in the top six per cent for the number of passes he has played into the final third (1.84 per 90) and is the type of forward Postecoglou probably wouldn’t mind having at his own disposal.
Spurs supporters will now wait anxiously to see whether or not Cunha is on the Wolves bus this weekend.
In other Tottenham news, a pundit believes one 23-year-old Spurs ace will “regret” his recent transfer decision.
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