Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven may be back from injury quicker than expected
Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven has returned to individual training post an injury to his hamstring, according to Paul O’Keefe, an agent close to the club.
Ange Postecoglou will be delighted with this development and it could be a sign that he’s on track to return quicker than first expected.
The Dutchman adapted to life in the Premier League exceptionally well and had been among the standout defenders before his injury.
O’Keefe wrote on Twitter, “Micky van de Ven has stepped up his recovery efforts by doing individual work with a ball back on grass.”
Van de Van has clocked among the fastest for a Premier League defender and that’s certainly helped propel Spurs up the table. [Premier League website]
In his absence, the North London club’s decline began and it’s no coincidence that it happened at the same time.
He’s also been exceptional with his passes, boasting an accuracy of 90 per cent this season, according to Fbref.
That also puts him in the top 12 per cent of all centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues which is certainly something Postecoglou will be proud of.
Having taken over a team that was coached by Nuno, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, there was little to no signs of Spurs being a good team at building from the back.
However, after signing the 22-year-old, things have improved massively and it remains to be seen how soon he will be back from injury.
Premier Injuries reported that he’ll return in the middle of January but this could mean he’s back sooner.
The Dutchman is not just good at making passes but is also capable of taking players on and he’s among the top three per cent of centre-backs in Europe’s top five leagues at that particular trait.
In him, Spurs have someone who’s good at passing, good at carrying the ball and also someone who possesses that kind of speed that can help prevent counterattacks.
He’s also chipped in with a goal this season and is slowly turning into a complete defender and that’s great news for Tottenham and their fans.
It remains to be seen just how far he goes, but these are early days in his career and the signs are certainly promising.
In other Tottenham Hotspur news, a player is mooted to have suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and now may be out for longer than first expected.