There is a particular sort of anxiety that arrives with the international break, the sense that a club surrenders control of its most valuable assets and must wait, helplessly, for updates from elsewhere. Tottenham now find themselves in that position again, with Jan Paul van Hecke emerging as the latest fitness concern after cutting short a Netherlands training session.
The centre-back, signed from Brighton in a £52m move this summer, has quickly established himself as a central figure in Roberto De Zerbi’s defence. Calm in possession, assertive in the air and increasingly comfortable organising those around him, Van Hecke has offered Tottenham a measure of authority at the back. That makes any possible setback particularly unwelcome.
Van Hecke Fitness Worry for Tottenham
During an open session in Zeist, Van Hecke was involved at the outset before stepping away after a brief discussion with the Netherlands coaching staff. He then sat in the dugout, with reports suggesting his involvement lasted only seven minutes. For now, certainty is in short supply. It remains unclear whether the withdrawal was precautionary, pre-arranged or prompted by a fresh issue.
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That ambiguity is what will concern Tottenham most. Van Hecke had started both of the Netherlands’ matches in this break, alongside Virgil van Dijk, and completed the full 90 minutes against both Germany and Serbia. He had looked durable and settled, which makes this development feel more significant than routine load management.
Spurs Squad Faces Testing Period
For Tottenham, though, the broader issue is accumulation. Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski and Mykhailo Mudryk are already sidelined, leaving De Zerbi with a squad that is beginning to feel stretched in key areas. Modern seasons are often shaped by talent, but also by availability. Spurs will hope this proves no more than a brief interruption, because Van Hecke has already started to look like one of the structural pieces on which their…
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