Giovani Lo Celso surely solves Ange Postecoglou problem for Tottenham after Friday update
After weeks of negative injury news, Tottenham will feel relieved to finally have a positive fitness boost with Giovani Lo Celso available for selection once again.
Spurs will host in-form Everton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday 23 December as they look to return to the Premier League’s top four.
The Toffees arrive in fantastic form, winning their last four league games without conceding a goal, and ahead of what looks set to be a difficult afternoon, Ange Postecoglou has received a welcome boost.
With his midfield looking light on its feet, with James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma all unavailable due to injury or suspension, Lo Celso’s return to action couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
The Argentina international was unavailable for the 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Friday 15 December due to a muscle injury, and it was reported by the Evening Standard (18 December) that he remained a doubt for the clash with Sean Dyche’s side.
However, Postecoglou has now provided an update which will come as music to Spurs supporters’ ears. Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Everton, the Australian was asked to provide a team update, where he confirmed the positive news about Lo Celso.
“Gio Lo Celso is back. He is fine and except for the suspended boys [Yves Bissouma and Destiny Udogie] we are missing, everyone else is ok,” (BBC Sport, 22 December).
Considering Spurs’ lack of options in midfield, it is likely Lo Celso will start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and his recent form suggests that he could hurt Everton.
After a goalscoring display against Aston Villa (26 November), Lo Celso followed that up with an impressive performance in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, where he completed 100 per cent of his passes, won three ground duels and made one interception, in addition to scoring another wonderful goal to make the score 2-2 (Sofascore).
It was a goal which came largely out of nowhere and got Tottenham back into the contest when their backs were up against the wall.
Having picked up the ball on the edge of the box, the 27-year-old cut onto his left foot and unleashed a precise strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Even at full stretch, the accuracy of the finish meant that Ederson couldn’t reach the ball, and it was a moment which perhaps changed the entire course of the game.
Spurs couldn’t captalise on this momentum and fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to London rivals West Ham United just four days later (7 December), although Lo Celso was one of the few players who could leave the pitch with his head held high that evening.
It was hard to place much of the blame for the loss on the midfielder, who was arguably one of the best players on the pitch. He completed 90 per cent of his passes with three of those being key, and won five ground duels and four fouls for his side, while also hitting the woodwork.
Nonetheless, he was dropped for the 4-1 home win against Newcastle United just a few days later (10 December), as Postecoglou opted to go with a more balanced midfield that accommodated the qualities of Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr.
Lo Celso still impressed off the bench against the Magpies, completing 92 per cent of his passes and working hard to make two tackles, and with Bissouma unavailable, he will likely step into his place alongside Sarr, and there is no reason why he won’t be able to cause Everton plenty of problems and solve a selection dilemma for Postecoglou in the centre of midfield.
In other Tottenham news, one Under-18 star could soon follow in the footsteps of Son Heung-min at Hotspur Way.