Tottenham handed major survival boost as three Leeds stars could be missing next week

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Tottenham have been handed a potential boost ahead of a defining run of fixtures, with developments at Leeds United offering a glimmer of hope in their battle for survival.

Tottenham Hotspur will certainly be hoping to approach their fight for survival on a game-by-game basis instead of looking too far ahead.

Right now, they are sat in the bottom three, but they will be hoping that their recent victory over Wolves last week catalyses what is to come in the final weeks of the Premier League season, with four games left to play.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
15	LeedsLeeds	34	9	13	12	44	51	-7	40
16	Nottingham ForestNottingham Forest	34	10	9	15	41	45	-4	39
17	West HamWest Ham	34	9	9	16	42	58	-16	36
18	TottenhamTottenham	34	8	10	16	43	53	-10	34
19	BurnleyBurnley	34	4	8	22	34	68	-34	20
20	WolvesWolves	34	3	8	23	24	62	-38	17

Head coach Roberto De Zerbi is certainly confident of his side’s chances of beating the drop. Speaking on that belief, he said: “I believe to stay up. If I stay here, it is because I am positive now, because I am a coach of Tottenham.

“Tottenham is not important on the pitch, if you are Tottenham or another team, the most important are the qualities of the players, and the human level of the players.

“It was a surprise for me, because I did not know them, and when I knew my players better, I understood that we have the possibility, the chance to stay up. We have two points, not 10 points, we have two points from West Ham.

“West Ham are a good team, but also Tottenham have very good players and are a very good team.”

Tottenham discover Leeds United injury concerns before clash

De Zerbi will now be hoping that his positivity translates into results on the pitch, with Tottenham still set to face Aston Villa, Leeds United, Chelsea and Everton.

The Villa game remains crucial for Spurs, who will be hoping to secure a victory and remain within touching distance of West Ham United in 17th, or even leapfrog them should the Hammers lose against Brentford.

A defeat, however, will make the subsequent fixtures must-win games if they are to pull off a great escape.

Leeds United are up next after Villa, and Spurs appear to have been handed a boost ahead of that clash, with three of Daniel Farke’s players in doubt.

The Leeds boss has confirmed that Gabriel Gudmundsson is expected to be out for at least two games, while Noah Okafor and Jaka Bijol are also doubts ahead of the weekend.

Speaking on Gudmundsson, Farke said, as relayed by football.london: “It is a hamstring injury and it is also a bit of a serious injury. He will miss the game on Friday and, as it stands, the Tottenham game.

“After that we will have to see. Obviously, we will try to bring him back as soon as we can. As it stands, the next two games we will have to play without him.”

Spurs face Noah Okafor threat as Daniel Farke provides fitness update

Okafor has also been contributing goals for Leeds, scoring seven so far this season and three in his last five Premier League outings.

Farke also provided an update on his fitness, explaining that it remains touch-and-go this weekend, although he could return for the Spurs game.

Speaking on Okafor and Bijol, he added: “We have one or two question marks. Noah Okafor got a hit to his calf and there is a question mark about his availability. Also, Jaka Bijol has a problem with his hip flexor. I hope to have both available, but I cannot say right now if it is possible.”

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