‘Is that 12?’ – Tottenham fans lose count as another key player suffers hamstring injury

Tottenham fans were left counting the cost of a seemingly never-ending absentee list with Yves Bissouma now sidelined by injury.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have been ravaged by injury this season, in particular, to their back line with first choice centre-backs Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven both sidelined since November.

The pair joined goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Brennan Johnson, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Rodrigo Bentancur in the treatment room.

Also unavailable to Postecoglou are Timo Werner, Fraser Forster and Wilson Odobert.

With an already threadbare squad to choose from, Postecoglou has been dealt a further blow with the news that Bissouma has suffered a hamstring strain.

The midfielder has undergone tests to discover the extent of the injury and Spurs are currently awaiting the scan results.

The club’s medical team are hopeful that the injury is not a serious one and Bissouma can be available for selection in two to three weeks.

But that's done nothing to appease the Spurs fan with one feeling miffed at the lengthy injury list which shows no sign of shrinking.

“That’s 12 out now right? I have actually legitimately lost count,” the fan wrote.

Another added: “This has to be down to the training methods.”

A third wrote: “Just can’t believe our luck, not sure about getting any new players, at least bring back the loaned.”

While a fourth fan joked: “Does this actually surprise anyone? I’m waiting for the medical team to pull a hamstring running the pitch to care for a player. Best bring my boots for the weekend at this rate."

Critically for Spurs, of the 12 injured players, at least eight would be likely starters in Postecoglou's starting XI.

Much has been made of the Australian tactician’s intense style of football and high-octane approach to training and many believe his methods correlate with Tottenham’s ongoing injury crisis.

Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock says Postecoglou’s style means Spurs must have a big enough squad to regularly rotate their stars.

"There has got to be a bit of an understanding of their injuries,” Warnock told Sky Sports. “With a fully fit squad, they are a very good team, however if you're going to continue playing this way, then you're going to continue to get injuries. And that's the problem.

"I just think, from the way Spurs play, they either need four top, top quality centre-backs who they can rotate to continue to play that way. Then they need two quality full-backs to again rotate. If you're going to play that system then you need to rotate.”

Asked about his training methods, Postecoglou said during his first season at the club: “A lot of the injuries are just the way we train and play. It’s players, sports science staff and the medical team understanding that and making adjustments.

“In my experience, I see that the players’ bodies adjust and they become more resilient to it. There’s also a science to it that helps us along in that way.”

There is little doubt that the growing injury list has hampered Tottenham’s season with the north London club currently 15th in the table.

Spurs have picked up just one point from a possible 18 in the league, coinciding with a list of key players in the treatment room.

Despite the club’s ongoing fitness issues, Tottenham still harbour ambitions of ending their 17-year trophy drought.

Carabao Cup success presents Spurs with their best hope of silverware while they remain in contention for the Europa League and FA Cup.

But much will hinge on how quickly Postecoglou can get his big hitters pack on the pitch and whether the injury woes will begin to ease.

Former Tottenham star Jamie O’Hara told talkSPORT that the injuries should not be used as an excuse for the club’s poor league showing.

“There’s injuries, key injuries but Bournemouth had eight first-team players out and beat Newcastle 4-1,” O’Hara said.

“If we were playing kids from the reserves and we were getting beaten, I’d hold my hands up and say we are struggling and down to the bare bones.

“[Heung-min] Son, [James] Maddison, [Dejan] Kulusevski, {Radu] Dragusin, [Pedro] Porro, they all played the other day. Don't tell me it’s acceptable to lose 12 games this season.”