Postecoglou: Injury-hit Spurs need help from fresh legs

Ange Postecoglou has reiterated the importance of Tottenham being active in the final 10 days of the January transfer window but he's hopeful of movement after the Europa League group phase ends next week.

Spurs were without 14 players for Thursday's much-needed 3-2 win over Hoffenheim due to a combination of injuries and eligibility.

Postecoglou revealed post-match that star forward Dominic Solanke would spend six weeks out with a knee injury and while he insisted that will not change their transfer plans, the 59-year-old added there could be a flurry of activity before the deadline shuts on February 3.

Asked if the league phase of European football finishing on January 30 may spark a busy end to the transfer window, Postecoglou admitted: "Yeah, potentially.

"It's not just about bringing in another body, but there is still no doubt we need to help these players because we've still got some significant games in the next two or three weeks before we get players back.

"Nothing's changed in the last 24 hours. We knew with Dom probably a few days back."

Keeper Antonin Kinsky and full-backs Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon will be available for Sunday's crucial fixture at home to Leicester after being ineligible for the Europa League, but Postecoglou revealed there is a doubt over Spence.

Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma could also miss out again, which leaves the Australian coach with limited options for a crunch match with the club down in 15th in the Premier League.

"Djed is still sore from the weekend and is a doubt for this weekend as he got a knock. Pape is still a doubt and Reggy should be OK," Postecoglou reflected.

"Obviously our schedule is not going to ease up at all and we've got a massive game this week and a massive week coming in a couple of weeks' time, but at the same time the resilience and determination of players to get out there and perform is a fantastic thing for me to witness.

"I couldn't be prouder of them."

Spurs' injury crisis has seen Postecoglou field various questions of his methods and the level of intensity implemented in training, but he insisted: "It's just injuries.

"I mean you can walk outside and say, 'jeez, it's really bright', and say to yourself maybe it's not the sun. But it is the sun, mate - we've just got injuries.

"And you can do a million investigations and talk to anonymous sources. You don't need to talk to anonymous sources, you can talk to me, every decision that is made is from me.

"I am responsible for this. If you want a head on a stick, take mine, but I am absolutely 100 per cent confident that we are in a better place as a football club today than when I started."