Hamburg’s record with Luka Vuskovic clearly demonstrates just how important the Tottenham centre-back is for the Bundesliga club’s backline.
Vuskovic’s numbers suggest that he has been one of the best centre-backs across Europe’s top-five leagues this season, even though this has been the 19-year-old’s first taste of football at the highest level.
However, the defender has been out with an injury over the last three weeks, and there have been mixed reports on the seriousness of the Tottenham man’s injury.
Spurs have ultimate power in deciding when Vuskovic returns to training, and HSV will soon be hoping to get a green light from the North London club for the teenager to feature.
Hamburg are struggling to pick up results without Tottenham’s Luka Vuskovic
The Bundesliga side have lost Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Hoffenheim over the last three weeks in the absence of the teenage centre-back.
Without Vuskovic at the heart of their defence, Hamburg have conceded nine goals in those matches, which shows just how desperately they have missed the Croat’s presence.
In stark contrast, HSV only lost three of their previous 10 matches when Vuskovic featured, including a 2-2 draw against champions Bayern Munich.
Why Hamburg will be desperate for Vuskovic to return soon
HSV are hopeful that Vuskovic will play for them again this season, but the club only have three games left this campaign.
The newly-promoted side are not out of relegation trouble yet, sitting five points ahead of St Pauli, who occupy the relegation/promotion playoff spot.
Merlin Polzin’s men would thus be keen to get the teenager back onto the pitch as soon as possible, but Tottenham Hotspur may be hesitant to take any risks with their young starlet unless he is 100 per cent fit.