- The Spurs believes a change needs to be implemented amid a hectic schedule
- Ange Postecoglou will travel to Hoffenheim with 14 players unavailable
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Ange Postecoglou claims Tottenham’s injury meltdown is a warning to football and that ruling bosies must increase squad sizes to help clubs cope.
Spurs have travelled to Germany without 14 of their first team squad for the Europa League tie against Hoffenheim on Thursday.
Djed Spence, Sergio Reguilon, Antonin Kinsky and Yang Min-hyeok are all fit but ineligible.
The first two because Postecoglou could not squeeze them into his squad at the start of the season and the latter two because they have only arrived this month and cannot register for UEFA competitions until the end of the league phase.
‘People may look at us and think it’s a unique case,’ said Postecoglou. ‘It’s a very extreme case for sure. We’ve been hit the hardest and we’re paying the toll but it’s becoming more prevalent. I don’t think it will be as uncommon as people think as we move along.
‘There’s some warning signs there for others. If you look at teams in Europe. Last year, Newcastle really suffered. Aston Villa to a certain extent this year.
Ange Postecoglou claims Tottenham’s injury meltdown is a warning to football as he called for change

Spurs have travelled to Germany without 14 of their first team squad for the Europa League tie against Hoffenheim

Micky van de Ven is amongst Tottenham’s ever-growing injury list of first-team stars
‘You need really need a strong squad and keep them healthy to cope with playing in Europe if you do well in the cup competitions because it’s not manageable.’
Squads are limited to 25 senior players and must include a certain number of home-grown players, although the rules on what makes a player home-grown differs slightly in European competition.
Postecoglou added: ‘If you’re going to play this much football you should be increasing squad numbers, is my belief. It doesn’t matter what strategies you put in place.
‘If you want to compete at this level and happen to do well in all competitions there’s no other way to counteract it. You have to rotate your team. You have to have virtually two separate line-ups. We haven’t been able to do that.
‘And you’ve got to factor international football into that. It’s not like they get a break between seasons, the calendar has really ramped up. In the last five years the game has changed a lot from the previous 50 years. There’s going to be some issues if the game keeps changing this quickly.’
Pape Matar Sarr is Tottenham’s latest casualty with a knock but hopes to be fit to face Leicester on Sunday. Rodrigo Bentancur is back after concussion. Cristian Romero is training again with the first team but has not travelled.


Both Djed Spence (left) and goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky (right) are fit but unavailable for the Europa League tie

Postecoglou admits there are no new signings imminent in the January transfer window to boost numbers
Postecoglou admits there are no new signings imminent to boost numbers.
His team are ninth with two to play in this phase of the Europa League, seeking a top-eight finish to avoid the play-off round as lifting the trophy is the only realistic chance of making the Champions League next season. They are 15th in the Premier League.
‘It’s a good way into the Champions League,’ said Archie Gray, who is expected to start at left back on Thursday.
‘Obviously with where we are, it will be difficult to get there in the Premier League. We’ve got an opportunity in the Europa League and hopefully we can take that.’
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