Reguilón back in Tottenham training ahead of Arsenal showdown
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte could be set to welcome back first-choice left-back Sergio Reguilón into the first-team fold as Spurs are in preparations to take on bitter rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday.
Understand Sergio Reguilon took a full part in training today at Hotspur Way. Hopefully good news for Spurs ahead of Sunday’s north London derby. More in here on the latest team news. https://t.co/bcYW7rAKn5
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) January 14, 2022
According to Football.London Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold, the 25-year-old Spanish international was “a bit tired” according to Conte when he explained the absence of the Madrid-native after he failed to feature against both Chelsea as well as Morecambe in the FA Cup third round.
Reguilón’s presence in first-team training at Hotspur Way is a massive boost to the Tottenham squad as the north London outfit looks to bounce back from back-to-back losses against London rivals Chelsea in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup. Should he not be available, it is expected that England youth international Ryan Sessegnon will deputize in his place.
North London Derby could be postponed
But the fitness and availability of Sergio Reguilón may be of no consequence after Arsenal has lodged a formal application to the Premier League to postpone the bitter clash in the wake of the first-team squad under Mikel Arteta being hit hard.
The Gunners could be without up to eleven squad members for the critical clash on Sunday with a mix of absences coming from AFCON squad selections, positive Covid cases, as well as injuries.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 13: Granit Xhaka of Arsenal walks off the pitch after being awarded a red card during the Carabao Cup Semi Final First Leg match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on January 13, 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Thomas Partey, Nicolas Pépé, Mohamed Elneny, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all in Cameroon representing their country, while Sead Kolasinać is out injured as well as Granit Xhaka now serving a suspension after receiving a straight red in last night’s Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Liverpool at Anfield.
Additionally, Martin Ødegaard is out with Covid while Emile Smith Rowe, Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Cédric Soares are all possibly unfit for service at the weekend as well.
For Tottenham this could also bode well, however, allowing the hopeful immediate returns of both Steven Bergwijn and Cristian Romero added to Reguilón’s updated status.
