Tottenham star Manor Solomon ruled out for rest of season in crushing blow for Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou has been given some clarity as it has been confirmed Manor Solomon will not play for Tottenham again this season.
Spurs signed free-agent Solomon last summer, but he has played just six times in all competitions – half of those starts – due to injury.
The 24-year-old last appeared in the 2-1 win over Liverpool at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 30 September, owing to a knee problem.
When will Manor Solomon return for Tottenham?
Postecoglou has regularly been asked when the attacker will return, without really being able to give a definitive answer.
However, Solomon’s agent Shlomi Ben Ezra is quoted by Israeli outlet One [26 March] as saying: “Bad luck has ended his season, unfortunately.
“But it is better that he arrives ready for next season. He underwent a small operation 10 days ago for a lot of improvements.”
Ben Ezra added that it will likely be around six weeks before the former Fulham player is back training, which is around the end of the 2023-24 campaign.
Solomon may not have played much of a part for Tottenham this season, but this is still a minor blow for Postecoglou in the short term.
The Israel international has showed in glimpses what he can bring to the side, having assisted two goals in 198 Premier League minutes.
Indeed, his 0.91 assists per 90 minutes in the Premier League this season is the best return of any Spurs player, albeit helped by his lack of minutes.
Next on that list of players still at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as per FBref, are James Maddison and Giovanni Lo Celso (both 0.43).
Solomon also boasts the highest expected assists return for any Tottenham player (0.38), while his 3.18 shots per 90 is the third-highest return.
Interestingly, Timo Werner now tops that list with 4.08, although he may not have been brought in two months ago had Solomon been fit and firing.
What position does Manor Solomon play?
Solomon is also assured on the ball, as reflected by his pass-accuracy percentage of 91 [WhoScored], which is on a par with Lo Celso.
Indeed, only six Tottenham players to have started a game this season can boast a better return than that from Solomon, who was hailed as “outstanding” by Tim Sherwood last year.
Despite his positioning high up the field on the wing – he has played almost exclusively as a left-winger – Solomon is not a player who often takes the ball past an opponent.
That is reflected in his 0.2 dribbles per game. For context, that is level with Lo Celso – again – and behind even Micky van den Ven (0.3).
Solomon started the season strongly with his pair of assists – both for Son Heung-min – coming in the 5-2 win at Burnley on 2 September.
In that game, his five key passes were at least two more than any other player on the field, coming from just 37 touches of the ball [WhoScored].
That averages out at one key pass per 7.4 touches. While that rate is obviously not sustainable, it shows what he is capable of.
Solomon also registered two tackles and an interception in that standout display, showing the defensive side of his game.
In other Tottenham news, Daniel Levy will be licking his lips at a no-questions-asked mega-million payment that could be heading Spurs’ way.
For more Tottenham news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.