Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is set to undergo an operation after sustaining a fracture to his left ankle, an injury that places his involvement in Wales’ upcoming World Cup play-off in serious doubt.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies is set to undergo an operation after sustaining a fracture to his left ankle, an injury that places his involvement in Wales’ upcoming World Cup play-off in serious doubt.
The 32-year-old was injured early in Saturday’s Premier League match against West Ham, which ended in a 2-1 loss for Spurs. Davies collapsed following the incident and required medical assistance on the pitch.
He was administered oxygen before being taken away on a stretcher just 19 minutes into the contest, immediately raising concerns over the severity of the problem.
A club statement later confirmed that surgery was scheduled, though no indication was given regarding how long the defender is expected to be sidelined.
The timing of the injury is particularly problematic for the national side, with Wales due to host Bosnia-Herzegovina in a World Cup play-off semi-final at the Cardiff City Stadium on 26 March.
Should Wales progress, they would welcome either Northern Ireland or Italy in the final five days later, again on home soil.
Davies, who captains his country, now appears unlikely to feature in those fixtures, although no official ruling has been made on his availability.
Davies’ absence adds to an expanding list of fitness issues within the Tottenham squad, compounding an already difficult campaign for head coach Thomas Frank.
Since his appointment in June, the Dane has overseen just seven league victories from 22 matches, leaving the club languishing in 14th position.
Frustration among supporters was evident during the closing stages of the defeat to West Ham, with chants directed at the manager questioning his future.
Despite internal discussions regarding his position, Frank remains in charge ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund.
