It’s fitting that Tottenham Hotspur ended 2023 with a game that saw them suffer more player injuries. Pape Matar Sarr left the 3-1 win over AFC Bournemouth midway through the first half in tears, having suffered a hamstring injury.
Even if he hadn’t gotten hurt, the New Year’s Eve clash was going to be Sarr’s final game ahead of joining up with the rest of his Senegal teammates at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Manager Ange Postecoglu was asked about the Sarr situation in post match media. “Hard to say,” Postecoglu said.
“Pape felt his hamstring and he’s emotional because he wants to go away with his national team. It’s a big tournament for them. It’s kind of the way our season has gone.
“He was so good again early in the game, apart from his goal, and then he gets an injury. Disappointing for him but I am hoping it is not too serious and he can still go away and contribute to his country.”
Sarr later posted an update on social media platform X, and in his posting, he was very upbeat and positive about the situation. Sounds like he’s fine.
Plus de peur que de mal, on se voit à la CAN ! ??? pic.twitter.com/ypGxZDXFBw
— Pape Matar Sarr (@papematarsarr15) December 31, 2023
He and his teammates will now look to defend their AFCON title. One of the Spurs subs who would later come on against the Cherries, Alejo Veliz, also left the pitch in tears due to injury.
Said Postecoglu after the match:
“Alejo was in a lot of pain and we’d already done our substitutions so we were trying to get it out to him to just lay down so we can get him off, but it just shows the character of the boy because he knew we had no more substitutions and he just wanted to keep going. I’m not sure the extent of what he’s done but we’ll find out.”
Let’s label him a doubt for the FA Cup clash on Friday night versus Burnley.
Elsewhere James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Ivan Perisic, Ryan Sessegnon, Alfie Whiteman, Cristian Romero and Manor Solomon all remain out for the weekend match, as longer-term injury absentees.
Finally, Heung Min-Son played his final game with the North Londoners before jets off to join the South Korean national team in the Asia Cup.
There is good news though, as Dejan Kulusevski is back from suspension, and Rodrigo Bentancur returned well ahead of schedule from injury recovery against the Cherries.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.