Ange Postecoglou has given an update on the fitness of young defender Ashley Phillips.
Tottenham Hotspur’s promising 18-year-old center-back sustained an injury while on England Under-19 duty in November and has been out since.
Earlier in December, Ange Postecoglou confirmed that Phillips would likely be out until the New Year.
But Spurs fans were given some good news earlier this week when the Spurs social media team posted a video from the gym showing the former Blackburn man back training alongside the first-team players in the gym, signaling a positive step in his rehabilitation process.
And now the manager has confirmed that Phillips is fully back from his injury and available for selection against Everton.
When asked about the latest team news, he said (via Football London):
“Gio is back. He’s fine. From last week there’s no one apart from the suspended boys who are missing out tomorrow. Everyone else is ok and Gio trained the last couple of days so is available. Ashley Phillips is also available (for selection).”
His return is a boost for Spurs who only have one fit centre-back available in Cristian Romero. Micky van de Ven is still out and not expected back for another two weeks at least while Dier is not only injured but also not preferred by Postecoglou.
Postecoglou had previously hinted at providing Phillips a first-team opportunity following Romero’s suspension and van de Ven’s injury.
Unfortunately, the injury setback delayed Phillips’ immediate involvement, interrupting his integration into the senior squad.
Now fit, Phillips stands a chance to showcase his abilities and earn a role within the first-team setup for Spurs.
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