Tottenham have been handed a major defensive boost by the news key centre-half Micky van de Ven is back in full training.
The Dutch international has been sidelined since pulling his hamstring in the 4-1 defeat by Chelsea on November 6. Van de Ven, a summer signing from Wolfsburg, had begun the campaign in great form, helping Spurs to the top of the Premier League thanks to their best start to a season since 1960.
Speaking ahead of today's FA Cup third round tie with Burnley, boss Ange Postecoglou, said: "Micky has trained this week. I'm not sure about Friday's game, he might be involved in the squad. It is good to get him back but obviously he has missed a fair bit so we will have to be careful with him."
Van de Ven's absence, plus a combination of injury and suspension affecting his defensive partner Cristian Romero, has left Postecoglou with a patched-up back four in recent months and results have suffered.
Despite the various selection problems, there haven't been many minutes for former England centre-back Eric Dier, who has this week been linked with West Ham.
But Postecoglou said: "No idea. Not on my radar. [Dier] is contracted to this football club and he is in charge of his own destiny as much as anyone else."
Reports have linked the north London club with a move for Genoa's Romanian international defender Radu Dragusin, but Postecoglou added: "It's hard to say because I don't get involved in that.
"We have some objectives and aims and we're working towards that. People are working behind the scenes. My role in that is to provide guidance or clarity over which way we go."
Tottenham have won seven FA Cups and despite their lofty league position, the competition may provide their best chance of silverware this season. Postecoglou insists he will be taking it seriously – starting against Vincent Kompany's Burnley at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tonight.
"I’m similar to anyone who loves football. The FA Cup is a significant event. The FA Cup reaches every corner of the globe, it is a great competition with great tradition and I am looking forward to having a crack at it," said the Spurs boss.
"At the start of every season, every club has ambitions and dreams of winning silverware. More than anything else it is an opportunity for us to try and win a competition and for a club of our stature that should be the ambition every year.
"I know what I feel. Every competition I am in, I want to win. I don’t rank them or diminish any against others. Whether it’s domestic or continental everything is hard-earned. I have not sensed anything different with this competition. The club has history in this, many of the greatest memories Spurs supporters have will have been in the FA Cup.
"You have to treat it differently. In cup games you know that’s it, you have to give everything on the day and teams tend to play a bit freer to try and get the job done."
Brighton 4-2 Tottenham - player ratings
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BRIGHTON PLAYER RATINGS: Had very little to do compared to his counterpart, but was a little shaky at times on the ball and conceded twice as the game came to a close. Getty Images -
The 18-year-old provided options going forward and it paid off when Pedro found him unmarked in the box, and he gave Brighton the lead. PA -
Denied by the post when his stooping header rattled the woodwork moments before Brighton’s penalty. Getty Images -
Typically untroubled in defence against a lacklustre Spurs side. Booked for a nasty follow-through on Kulusevski and will miss the game against West Ham. Getty Images -
Found it tough to deal with the pace of Johnson on breaks but provided a crucial block in first-half stoppage time to clear Spurs’ pressure. Subbed at half-time. AP -
Worked well alongside Milner to provide calm and composure in the Brighton midfield and assisted Brighton’s attacking outlets. Getty Images -
Unleashed a powerful strike that hit the post. Later used his experience to cut out Spurs’ attacks when needed. AP -
Thought he’d tripled his side’s lead when he stabbed home a cross, only to see the offside flag raised. Picked up a needless booking before half-time. AP -
A danger from set-pieces and a lively outlet for the home side during the first half with a lot of freedom. AP -
Rewarded with a place in the side after his equaliser against Crystal Palace, and quickly forced Vicario into making an outstanding save to deny an early opener. Looked a threat throughout. Getty Images -
Wove through the Spurs defence to find Hinshelwood in space for Brighton’s opener, sent Vicario the wrong way from the penalty spot, and was unlucky to see his chipped attempt go wide after Vicario’s interception, before he slotted home his second from the spot. AFP -
SUBS: (Igor 46’) Scored a thunderbolt of a goal to leave Vicario helpless and triple Brighton’s lead. AFP -
(Buonanotte 60’) Didn’t have the opportunity to make anything happen but did stick his foot in as Spurs tried to find a way back into the game. Getty Images -
(Welbeck 69’) Instant impact from the bench as he was rewarded a penalty when he was brought down by Lo Celso. Getty Images -
(Milner 69’) Booked seconds after his introduction. Getty Images -
(Pedro 90'+3) A late change for Brighton to help see out the game. PA -
TOTTENHAM PLAYER RATINGS: Outstanding save inside six minutes to deny Welbeck an early opener, palming away a shot from the six-yard box. Kept Spurs in the game but could do little about Brighton’s goals. Getty Images -
Caught out a few times, especially in the early stages dealing with Pedro. Denied a chance for Milner to double the lead when Gilmour slipped a pass through to the midfielder. Needed to do better with the dead ball. AFP -
Switched to centre-back following the return of Udogie and was tested greatly on the right side of defence, with Pedro and Welbeck cutting in. AP -
Scored a second consolation goal in the 86th minute as he headed past Steele to give Spurs’ a faint chance of a result. Getty Images -
Returned from suspension and was denied twice in seconds; first when his shot was blocked by van Hecke, and then when his rebounded attempt was kept out by Steele. Getty Images -
Comfortable on the ball but couldn’t deal with the confidence of Brighton on the attack, and was taken off as Postecoglou looked for a spark. AFP -
Provided composure after Spurs’ went 2-0 down and tried to make things happen going forward. Hit the post in stoppage time, which would have given Spurs a third. Getty Images -
Remained spritely to try and fashion a chance in the first half and made things for Igor difficult on the break, but ultimately unsuccessful. Getty Images -
Tried to make things happen when he got on the ball and got into some good areas. Handed Brighton a stonewall penalty by deliberately holding onto Welbeck’s shirt during a corner. Booked. Reuters -
Attempted a curling effort on the stroke of half-time as he looked to nick a goal but otherwise lacked the cutting edge. Found Veliz in space to add another assist to his tally. Getty Images -
Had several opportunities to pull a goal back for his side but was left frustrated as the game went on. Thought he’d finally found the net before he was flagged for offside. Booked. Getty Images -
SUBS: (Richarlison 65’) Quieter in comparison to his fellow substitutes but needed to do better when the ball fell to his feet as the game entered stoppage time. Getty Images -
(Sarr 65’) Brought down Ferguson in the penalty area as Spurs’ day went from bad to worse. Getty Images -
(Johnson 70’) Opened his account for Spurs as he tucked the ball past Steele as a consolation and provided a much-needed spark. Reuters
