Tottenham: Agent drops Micky van de Ven injury reveal ahead of Premier League clash v Luton
Micky van de Ven could make his Tottenham return against Luton Town this weekend.
Spurs are back in action following the March international break as they host the Hatters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (30 March).
Ange Postecoglou will be looking for a response from his players after they were thrashed 3-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage last time out, and the Australian could be boosted by the return of van de Ven.
The Dutchman missed Spurs’ trip to Fulham after picking up an injury in the 4-0 win against Aston Villa at Villa Park (10 March), and reliable Tottenham-inside Paul O’Keefe has now provided an update on van de Ven’s fitness ahead of this weekend
O’Keefe wrote via X (28 March), “(Micky) van de Ven has taken part in some training but Ange is to decide whether to save him for West Ham as Spurs face 2 games in 3 days”.
While there will be plenty of temptation to throw van de Ven straight back into the team following Radu Dragusin’s tricky evening against Marco Silva’s side last time out, Postecoglou must make the smart decision in this situation.
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven should be spared by Ange Postecoglou against Luton Town
Van de Ven enjoyed the reverse fixture against Luton, scoring the only goal of the match as a 10-man Tottenham team ran out 1-0 winners at Kenilworth Road (7 October).
It was an afternoon where van de Ven really announced himself to the Premier League, as he made two tackles, won 100 per cent of his ground and aerial duels and completed 94 per cent of his passes (Sofasscore).
His performance both defensively and offensively secured all three points for the visitors that afternoon.
However, Postecoglou must avoid the temptation to play van de Ven against Luton this time around.
A hamstring injury is not something which a player should be rushed back from, and considering it is van de Ven’s second of the season, Spurs must manage his return carefully.
With two games in three days, van de Ven should be spared against Luton, and Tottenham should have more than enough to win this fixture without him.
The trip to West Ham on Tuesday (2 April) will be far more difficult, and that is when Postecoglou will need the 22-year-old, who was imperious in his last away performance.
Tottenham secured a huge three points at Villa Park, and although van de Ven only managed to play the first half, his quality was on display for all to see.
He completed 98 per cent of his passes and made one last-man tackle while also completing 100 per cent of his long balls forward.
Micky van de Ven is a key player for Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham
Van de Ven has been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League this season and epitomises everything Postecoglou wants in his defenders.
His ball-playing ability cannot be questioned. As per fbref, the former Wolfsburg man ranks in the top one per cent of his positional peers in England’s top flight this season for his pass completion rate (95.3 per cent per 90).
Furthermore, van de Ven ranks in the top seven per cent for the number of successful take-ons he has completed (0.65 per 90) and is comfortable higher up the pitch, positioned in the 91st percentile for the number of tackles he has made in the attacking third (0.18 per 90).
Postecoglou will no doubt be keen to get him back on the pitch, but his return should come against West Ham next week, not Luton.
In other Tottenham news, a Spurs expert has predicted that one “phenomenal” ace could be in line to feature against Luton.
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