Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Lucas Bergvall will not feature in Tottenham’s Europa League final against Manchester United despite travelling with the squad to Bilbao.
The midfielder suffered an ankle ligament injury at the end of April, missing his side’s last three Premier League games and both semi-final legs against Bodo Glimt.
The 19-year-old, who has started 24 matches in all competitions this season, was ruled out for the rest of the season, but developments this week fuelled hope he could still have some role to play in the Basque Country this week.
The Swede was seen training with the team and travelled with the squad to Bilbao.
But despite hopes of a shock inclusion tomorrow night, Postecoglou has ruled him out of returning at San Mames.
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‘Team news is pretty much the same as last week. Lucas [Bergvall] isn’t available so it’s pretty much the same as last week,’ Postecoglou said.
Spurs were dealt another injury worry when Pape Matar Sarr was forced off during last Friday’s Premier League defeat at Aston Villa.
The midfielder, among the few first-team regulars to start at Villa Park, was replaced after 53 minutes, heading straight down the tunnel after gingerly leaving the pitch.
Sarr however is ‘fine’ after that scare and is in contention to make the starting XI tomorrow night.,
Like his counterpart at Old Trafford, Postecoglou is under huge pressure heading into the final with both Spurs and United desperate to salvage silverware after dreadful domestic campaigns.
There have been suggestions the Australian could be sacked regardless of who lifts the trophy with the Spurs boss insisting his future is ‘irrelevant’ ahead of kick-off.
‘It doesn’t matter really. Because the reality is, the opportunity is the same for me and for the club,’ he said.
‘I’ve said before, whatever happens beyond tomorrow is kind of irrelevant when you think about the opportunity that exists right now, to provide something special for this club and the supporters and everyone who has worked so hard the last 16 years waiting for a trophy and the last 41 years waiting for a European trophy.
‘If I was worried about my tenure at this club, fair to say we wouldn’t be in this position because I would have got distracted long ago and I’m pretty good at making sure my focus is on giving this club the best opportunity to do something special.
‘Whatever happens after that I’m very comfortable that I’ll continue on trying to win trophies wherever I am.’