Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Tottenham midfielder Tanguy Ndombele has been ruled out of Sunday’s clash against Newcastle United.
Spurs’ club-record signing will miss the game against the Magpies with a minor injury, with Ryan Sessegnon and Juan Foyth also set to miss out.
Pochettino revealed the news in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by PA Sport journalist Jonathan Veal on his personal Twitter account, that the dynamic midfielder will not make Sunday’s clash.
Ndombele has quickly become a key man in the heart of Spurs’ midfield, scoring the equalising goal on the way to victory over Aston Villa on the opening day of the Premier League.
OPINION
This is great news for Newcastle with Spurs missing one of their most influential players from the beginning of the season. Ndombele has been in phenomenal form both in attack and defence – averaging four tackles, 1.5 interceptions, and 0.5 blocks when sitting in holding midfield [WhoScored]. Alongside that, the French midfielder also possesses what the Magpies’ current midfield options don’t – the ability to get forward. The 22-year-old has already registered a goal and an assist in his two games, as well as averaging a single shot and key pass per game. He also completes two dribbles per outing. Newcastle’s so-called best holding midfielder Isaac Hayden has already been exploited when playing in a wider role this season, being dribbled past 2.5 times on average per game according to WhoScored, and will be no doubt delighted to see that Ndombele won’t be opposite him on Sunday, especially giving the fragile start to the season the Magpies have made defensively.
