Man Utd dealt major Tottenham blow with Ange Postecoglou hopeful of five injury returns for crunch clash on Sunday

Spurs have endured a difficult run of form, slipping to 14th in the league standings and suffering back-to-back eliminations from domestic cup competitions within the space of a week. With their Europa League campaign now their last realistic shot at silverware, the return of multiple senior players could be the fresh start they need.

In a massive boost for Postecoglou, Tottenham could see as many as five first-team stars return to full training this week. Guglielmo Vicario, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Timo Werner are all edging closer to a comeback, providing much-needed encouragement for the north London side.

Vicario has been out of action since November 23, when he sustained a fractured foot during Tottenham’s 4-0 triumph over Manchester City. Whereas, Udogie was sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw against Wolves at the end of December. Maddison’s absence has been particularly felt in midfield. The playmaker, missing for three weeks due to a calf strain, remains crucial to Tottenham’s creativity in attack. Meanwhile, Johnson and Werner have been out of action since mid-January. With their return on the horizon, Postecoglou could finally regain some flexibility in his forward line.

The Australian boss remained cautiously optimistic, stating: "We hope to have three, maybe four, players back in training this week, and potentially one or two more in the next couple of weeks."

While the potential return of five stars is encouraging, uncertainty looms over several other key players. Richarlison picked up a calf issue during last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Liverpool, and his availability for the United clash remains unclear. Additionally, defenders Micky van de Ven (hamstring) and Cristian Romero (thigh) are recovering at a slower pace, with no set timeline for their returns.

With Tottenham’s squad having endured a relentless schedule since the turn of the year, Postecoglou has given his players a much-needed break from training on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The Australian hopes that his troops will return refreshed ahead of hosting Manchester United on Sunday. It will be followed by another week off before their visit to Ipswich Town. This period of recovery could be key in getting the team back to full strength for the crucial run-in.