Questions are once again being raised around Tottenham Hotspur’s handling of injuries after Xavi Simons’ devastating setback, with scrutiny falling firmly on the club’s medical team.
Tottenham Hotspur cannot seem to catch a break on the injury front this season, with their players continuing to drop like flies.
Spurs Web revealed that recent data has Tottenham as the unluckiest side in the Premier League this season, having lost players to 243 weeks of injury.
On Saturday, Xavi Simons unfortunately joined the list of long-term absentees after suffering an ACL injury in the clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the Dutchman now set to miss the rest of the season and the World Cup.
Tottenham medical team criticised by Jamie O’Hara after Xavi Simons injury incident
Spurs fans have since vented their frustrations following news of Simons’ injury, with many quick to call for the club to sack their medical team.
The frustrations of the Lilywhites faithful are not misplaced, as during the course of this season, several Tottenham players have had to face extended time on the touchline.
In fact, this season alone, there have been three ACL injuries, with Wilson Odobert, James Maddison and Xavi Simons all suffering setbacks.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jamie O’Hara took aim at the Tottenham medical team, questioning their handling of the situation involving Simons.
He said: “I mean ACL I mean what? I cannot blame the medical team for that. What I can blame the medical team for is the fact that they put ice spray on his knee when he is off and everyone in the ground can see that he was in a bad way, Xavi Simons, he was in a bad way and they got him up.
“I think they made him do a couple of jumps to see if he was alright. They put ice spray on his knee, he has ruptured his ACL. I mean how many times have we had this argument, Jason, me and you, about get him on a stretcher?
“Players on a stretcher, you see him walk off, next day you say yeah he has done his meniscus or he has done his ACL, he is out for six months and they are walking off a football pitch.
“The amount of times we say this, if they are injured, if they have got a knee injury, they are coming off. Put him on a stretcher and get him off.
“In the end he does go on a stretcher after they have put ice spray on his knee and made him jump up and down, it is unbelievable.
“It is unbelievable, I cannot get my head around it and then you know I am sitting here, we are going how many injuries can these players take?
“How many injuries have Spurs got this season and it is not an excuse but it is ridiculous. The whole team has been injured this season. It is half the season with 13 players.”
Tottenham injury crisis deepens ahead of Aston Villa clash
While Simons is set to begin his recovery, Spurs continue to wait anxiously for reports regarding Dominic Solanke.
The Englishman was also forced off against Wolves after picking up a hamstring injury that saw him substituted before half-time.
Spurs Web has since reported that Solanke’s issue is also long-term and could keep him out for the rest of the season, meaning he may miss Spurs’ fight for survival.
With two more players now joining the treatment table, Tottenham could be without 11 players heading into their clash with Aston Villa this weekend.
However, they will be hoping that Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie are passed fit as they near returns from their respective injuries.