An explanation for the absence of key defender Eric Dier from the Tottenham Hotspur squad set to take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday has been provided.
Antonio Conte’s troops are of course primed to return to action in short order.
After seeing the likes of capital rivals Chelsea and Crystal Palace march on, Spurs will welcome Graham Potter’s Brighton to north London, hopeful of booking their own spot in the 5th-round of the FA Cup.
The clash marks the Lilywhites’ first in a full two weeks, on the back of a long overdue break in the English football calendar.
Dier latest
As alluded to above, though, Tottenham’s efforts to keep their sole remaining silverware hunt for the 2021/22 campaign alive and kicking on Saturday night will come without the contributions of a key member of the club’s backline.
As is customary, a short time ago, the respective starting line-ups set to be fielded by both the Lilywhites and Brighton this evening were unveiled.
Antonio Conte has opted for a strong XI, doing little to hide his FA Cup desires courtesy of a side featuring the talents of Hugo Lloris, Heung-min Son and Harry Kane:
Your team to face @OfficialBHAFC this evening! ? pic.twitter.com/cesiA8ktnp
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 5, 2022
One altogether glaring omission from not only Spurs’ starting line-up, but matchday squad as a whole, though, comes in the form of the aforementioned Eric Dier.
In turn, an explanation for the absence of the English international on Saturday night has since been provided, with the reliable Alasdair Gold of football.london having confirmed that Dier has been left at home ‘as a precautionary measure’, owing to a thigh issue:
Eric Dier has been left out tonight as a precautionary measure due to his recent thigh issue.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) February 5, 2022
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