In a blow to their already stretched midfield resources, Tottenham Hotspur faces the prospect of losing promising young midfielder Lucas Bergvall for an extended period after he sustained an ankle injury during Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Borussia Dortmund.
The 19-year-old Sweden international was forced off in the 63rd minute of the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium following a challenge with Dortmund’s Emre Can. Manager Thomas Frank confirmed the setback in his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s Premier League fixture against Burnley.
“Unfortunately, Lucas picked up an ankle injury,” Frank stated. “He keeps being very unlucky with injuries, and it looks like it could be a longer one. He’s been assessed these two days, so time frame, I’ll know more about in the next couple of days”.
Initial reports from Sweden and subsequent analysis in the UK suggest the injury is a significant high ankle sprain that could sideline Bergvall for two to three months. Such a timeline would see the teenager miss a crucial phase of the season.
Estimates indicate he could be absent for approximately 15 matches across all competitions. This stretch includes pivotal Premier League clashes against Manchester City, Manchester United, and Arsenal, as well as the decisive Champions League knockout play-off round in February and potentially the round of 16 in March.
The injury also deals a severe blow to Bergvall’s international ambitions, almost certainly ruling him out of Sweden’s World Cup qualification play-off semi-final against Ukraine in late March, and a potential final against Poland or Albania.
Sweden manager Graham Potter will have to plan without the midfielder, who is also set to miss the remainder of his country’s campaign.
This latest setback continues a frustrating, injury-disrupted debut season in North London for Bergvall. The young midfielder has previously missed games due to a concussion protocol in November and a groin issue earlier in January.
His absence exacerbates a severe midfield crisis for Frank, who is already navigating a lengthy injury list.
Key players such as James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, and Dejan Kulusevski are all long-term absentees, while Joao Palhinha has missed the last two games with a knock. The defensive department is also hit, with Ben Davies undergoing surgery on a fractured ankle.
Despite the concerning news on Bergvall, Frank offered a more positive update on other squad members ahead of the trip to Turf Moor. “Palhinha is progressing and could be close for Burnley but will be tight,” he said. “Dom [Solanke], Destiny [Udogie] and Xavi [Simons] all came through well and have had a little extra recovery time. They should be available for Burnley”. The recent signing Conor Gallagher, ineligible for the Champions League, will also be available for selection.
The injury to Bergvall casts a shadow over what was a much-needed 2-0 victory against Dortmund, a result that eased some pressure on Frank and strengthened Tottenham’s position in the Champions League.
As the club awaits a definitive diagnosis in the coming days, the focus shifts to an increasingly threadbare squad navigating a demanding schedule on multiple fronts.