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SportsTottenham striker Dominic Solanke faces fresh injury concern after limping into team hotel
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Tottenham Hotspur defeated Sydney FC 4-2 on penalties in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday, making it three wins from three under manager Roberto De Zerbi. However, the match was overshadowed by a new injury concern for striker Dominic Solanke. Journalist Chris Cowlin reported on X that Solanke was seen limping into the team hotel after training on Tuesday. Solanke, 28, has a recent history of ankle problems, having missed 33 games and 140 days after undergoing ankle surgery at the start of the 2025/26 campaign. He returned in January but suffered another injury by season's end, managing only 20 appearances and six goals across all competitions. The article notes that De Zerbi and the club have not commented, but given Solanke's fragility, the hierarchy may need to intensify their search for a reliable No.9 ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.
Source report
Tottenham Hotspur were dealt an injury blow ahead of their pre-season friendly against Sydney FC, with striker Dominic Solanke reportedly seen limping after training.
Pre-Season Progress
Tottenham made it three wins from three in pre-season under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who is preparing for his first full season in North London.
Spurs needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Sydney FC on Wednesday. Mathys Tel gave Tottenham the lead with a stunning free-kick just before the half-hour mark, before Takahiro Sekine levelled the scores in the second half. Tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to penalties, with De Zerbi's men winning 4-2.
Solanke's Latest Injury Worry
When the club announced the starting XI and squad to face Sydney FC, Dominic Solanke was absent. Journalist Chris Cowlin revealed on X that Solanke was seen limping into the hotel on Tuesday after training.
While the issue may be minor, and neither De Zerbi nor the club have commented publicly, Solanke's recent history with ankle problems has raised concern among Tottenham fans.
The England international struggled with an ankle issue throughout the 2025/26 season. The 28-year-old missed the start of the campaign after undergoing ankle surgery, which sidelined him for almost 140 days and caused him to miss 33 games. Solanke returned to action in the second week of January but suffered another injury by the end of the campaign.
Impact on the Squad
Solanke was limited to just 20 appearances in all competitions last season, 15 of which came in the Premier League. He managed only six goals, with Richarlison shouldering the goalscoring burden for large parts of the campaign.
When fully fit, Solanke offers Tottenham a natural goal threat in and around the box. He possesses a mix of technical and physical qualities that align with De Zerbi's insistence on vertical, high-tempo possession football. However, his fitness since the start of 2025 has been inconsistent, leading to erratic displays.
What This Means Going Forward
Solanke's latest injury concern serves as a reminder of his fragility. De Zerbi should be concerned, knowing the striker's injury history since last year. This also calls for the club's hierarchy to step up their search for a reliable No. 9, as De Zerbi cannot enter the 2026/27 campaign with two injury-prone, volatile strikers in his squad.
This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.
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Source
Yardbarker: SoccerWestern
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Tottenham face new Dominic Solanke injury concern ahead of new season