Alderweireld expected to miss two to four weeks – Mourinho

Toby Alderweireld’s injury is not as bad as first feared, Jose Mourinho revealed, with the Tottenham defender expected to miss between two and four weeks.

Alderweireld suffered a groin injury in Spurs’ win over Manchester City on Saturday and Mourinho was initially downbeat about the outlook for the Belgium international.

However, scans appear to have brought good news for Spurs, who are top of the Premier League courtesy of their goal difference being superior to that of defending champions Liverpool.

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Ludogorets, Mourinho said: “Toby has a muscular injury but not as bad as we initially thought.

“He will have his time to be out but not like a month, which was immediately what we thought. I’d say between two and four weeks.”

A two-week absence will see Alderweireld miss the Premier League derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal as well as the European meetings with Ludogorets and LASK.

Should he be out for four weeks, Alderweireld would also be unavailable for Spurs’ final Europa League group game at home to Antwerp and league fixtures against Crystal Palace, Liverpool and Leicester City.

Despite missing three of their nine Premier League games this season, Alderweireld leads Tottenham in clearances with 29, according to Opta data.

Jose on @AlderweireldTob:

“He has a muscular injury but not as bad as we initially thought. He will be out, but not for a month like we suspected. I would say 2 to 4 weeks.”#UEL  #COYS pic.twitter.com/x252YJ8SxM

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 25, 2020

Tottenham could be allowed to let fans into their stadium in a reduced capacity from December 2, when the lockdown in England ends, though their ability to do so will depend on London’s coronavirus risk tier.

Asked about that possibility, Mourinho said: “First of all we have to see what tier London is.

“Looking at it from an economical point of view I don’t think it’s any good to clubs but for the fans, for their happiness and best of all it’s probably the start of it and progressively we can go in the way of a situation closer to what we wanted.”

Spurs are top of Europa League Group J having claimed two wins from their opening three games in this stage of the competition.

They beat Ludogorets, who have lost all three of their group matches, 3-1 in the reverse fixture.