Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on the current condition of Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies.
What’s the latest?
Speaking on a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, the football.london journalist revealed that, after sustaining a hairline fracture below his knee during Spurs’ 2-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon last week, the 29-year-old will be unavailable for selection for the next three weeks – making him a serious doubt for the north London derby on October 1.
Regarding the defender’s injury, Gold said: “Ben Davies does have an injury at the moment. He’s got a little hairline fracture just under his knee, kind of beneath his knee on his leg, which they hope will just be about three weeks [out] – so maybe in time for the North London derby. Obviously, he’s been withdrawn from Wales duty.”
Conte will be gutted
Considering just how impressive Davies has been ever since Antonio Conte’s appointment at the club last November, Gold’s suggestion that the Welshman will be ruled out of action for around 21 days – which would mean a return to action on October 4, working from the Sporting fixture – is sure to have come as a huge blow to the Italian manager ahead of the Arsenal fixture.
Indeed, over his 29 Premier League appearances last season, the £18m-rated talent was in fine form, helping his side keep 11 clean sheets, scoring one goal and registering one assist, as well as making an average of one interception, 1.2 tackles, 2.5 clearances, 46.4 passes and winning 4.4 duels – at a success rate of 54% – per game.
These returns saw the 29-year-old average a very respectable SofaScore match rating of 6.88, ranking him as Conte’s joint 12th-best outfielder in the top flight of English football in 2021/22.
This is form the 73-cap international had continued over his five league outings in the current campaign, having already helped his side keep two clean sheets and provided one assist, in addition to making an average of 0.8 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 4.0 clearances, 42 passes and winning 3.8 duels per game.
These metrics had seen the £60k-per-week defender average an even more impressive SofaScore match rating of 6.98, ranking him as Tottenham’s ninth-best player in the Premier League so far this season.
As such, while it is true that Fabio Paratici did bring in Clement Lenglet to help strengthen Spurs at left centre-back, it is nevertheless clear to see just how much of a blow Davies’ absence would be for Conte ahead of the upcoming north London derby – with the Welshman’s setback sure to have left the 52-year-old manager gutted.