Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou has explained why Timo Werner was absent from the squad for their recent clash against Ipswich Town, despite the forward being available for selection.
As Spurs prepare for their clash against Manchester City, Postecoglou has been providing updates on the fitness of several key players.
He has revealed that Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, and Dominic Solanke are all making positive progress in their respective recoveries, with a return expected within the next ten days.
However, he also stated that Ben Davies is unlikely to return for Spurs this week, with the Welshman absent from the 4-1 win over Ipswich. Davies is instead targeting a comeback in Spurs’ following fixture against AZ Alkmaar.
With multiple players edging closer to full fitness, squad selection is becoming increasingly competitive for the Tottenham manager.
Ange Postecoglou reveals why Werner missed out against Ipswich
While Davies’ absence was anticipated, Werner’s omission from the squad raised eyebrows. The German forward has been sidelined for over four weeks due to injury but was believed to be available for selection last weekend.
Speaking to football.london, Postecoglou clarified his decision: “No, he was only really available for the weekend, but because of the make-up of the squad, I put in Sergio Reguilon as another defender. He has trained and is available for tomorrow.”
Werner has not featured for Spurs since picking up a knock in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. With his fitness improving, it was expected that he would at least make the bench against Ipswich, but the manager opted for defensive cover instead.
What this means for Timo Werner’s Tottenham future
Despite the manager’s explanation, Werner’s omission highlights the growing battle for game time in Tottenham’s squad. As injured players return, his chances of playing regularly seem to be shrinking.
Werner was also left out of Tottenham’s Europa League squad, further limiting his opportunities.
With Spurs no longer in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup and key attackers returning to fitness, Werner could struggle for minutes as the season progresses. Whether he can work his way back into Postecoglou’s plans remains uncertain.