Tottenham rocked by injuries ahead of West Ham test with Ange Postecoglou missing key trio

Cristian Romero is the only fit centre-back Tottenham have going into the game against West Ham tonight with Micky van de Ven, Eric Dier and Ashley Phillips all out due to injuries. 

Romero is now available after serving his three-game ban following a red card against Chelsea last month, but he'll either be paired with Ben Davies or Emerson Royal, both full-backs for the London derby.

Spurs are looking for their first league win this month but did pick up an impressive point against Manchester City at the weekend. The return of Romero also is an added boost to a team that won eight of their first 10 games but have since gone four without one. 

Asked if he'd had a word with the 2022 World Cup winner about the need to keep a cool head, Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said:

“I’ve not had to have a word with (him) about discipline. It’s part of who he is as a player, he brings a physicality to it.

“When he oversteps mark the whole group pays a price so it’s up to him to maintain discipline I know he can show, but more importantly he’s such a strong presence on the field and in during the week, so good to have him back.

“His training has been good but he’s been frustrated because – not just the fact he has missed out – but he has understood the situation we’ve been in.

“It was not like he was the only one missing. All of a sudden post-Chelsea we lost Micky (Van de Ven), we lost Destiny (Udogie), we lost pretty much our whole back four, we lost Madders (James Maddison) and he knows how important he is.

“He was frustrated and he had the international week which was good for him because he got a couple of games in there and away from here, but he’s been ready to go."

Romero faces the risk of being banned for four games if he received another straight red card in the next 10 league matches.