View: Ange could be forced to hand Tottenham gem debut v Rangers after injury development

Ange Postecoglou’s defensive options are looking slim as Tottenham prepare to face Rangers in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

It feels as though Postecoglou can’t catch a break at the moment, with the Australian believed to need a “remarkable” turnaround to save his Spurs career, despite currently maintaining internal support [via The Telegraph, 9 December].

Spurs have won just one of their last seven matches, while key players seem to be picking up injuries at an unprecedented rate, with Cristian Romero now expected to be sidelined for six weeks [via Gastón Edul, 9 December].

The Argentine lasted just 15 minutes as Spurs were beaten 4-3 in the Premier League by Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday [8 December]. Romero was making his return from injury alongside Micky van de Ven in the London Derby.

However, neither player was able to complete the full 90 minutes, with Ben Davies also sidelined and expected to be out until January after picking up an injury of his own while covering for Romero and van de Ven.

It is an almost comical situation, and Postecoglou won’t quite believe his luck as he now faces the prospect of a trip to Glasgow with Radu Drăgușin, who hasn’t been entirely convincing this season, as his only available senior centre-back.

However, while this is bad news for the club, it could be great news for Alfie Dorrington, who has been patiently awaiting the chance to make his Tottenham debut, which could now arrive at Ibrox on 12 December.

Alfie Dorrington to make Tottenham debut against Rangers?

Dorrington was part of several first-team matchday squads last season. However, the 19-year-old never quite made it onto the pitch.

Having suffered from injury issues of his own throughout much of 2024, the centre-back seems to have put that past him and has started four of the last five Premier League 2 matches for Spurs’ Under-21s.

In addition, he has also been on the bench for two Europa League games this season, and considering the lack of options available at the back, will likely be among the substitutes once again on Thursday.

He could even start alongside Drăgușin, although Archie Gray is more likely to take that place, having started in all five of Spurs’ Europa League matches this season and already played at centre-back.

However, should Spurs be protecting a lead late on, or yet another defensive player pick up an injury, Dorrington could very well end up on the pitch and find himself making his debut for Tottenham in Scotland.

In other Tottenham news, one first-team player could be transfer listed as a “problem” emerges.

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