Tottenham could be without Yves Bissouma for this Sunday's mouth-watering North London derby at home to Arsenal.
Bissouma, 28, picked up an injury during the international break, having scored the only goal of the game as Mali won 1-0 away to Eswatini on Tuesday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. But the midfielder wasn't able to complete the full 90 minutes, as he limped off midway through the second half.
In the 65th minute, Bissouma was hit with a heavy tackle and is now a doubt to face bitter rivals Arsenal. Although the former Brighton man didn't feature in Spurs' opening match of the Premier League season - as he served a club-imposed one-match ban after filming himself inhaling nitrous oxide - he has started both games since.
Bissouma scored a stunner in last month's 4-0 thrashing of Everton before tasting defeat away to Newcastle prior to the international break. The 28-year-old may have to sit on the sidelines when Arsenal visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but the Gunners have issues of their own in midfield.
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Declan Rice will serve his one-match ban this weekend after controversial picking up two yellow cards in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton and to add to Mikel Arteta's woes, captain Martin Odegaard is unlikely to face Spurs. The Norwegian suffered a nasty ankle injury during his country's 2-1 win against Austria on Monday.
Arteta and co are hopeful that Odegaard won't be out long-term, with Norway's team doctor issuing an update on Tuesday. "Such ankle injuries often take at least three weeks. Anything other than that is just a bonus. And then it can take longer," Ole Sand told Norwegian outlet VG.
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"What we have so far obtained from the MRI examination in London is that there is probably no fracture in the ankle." Sand added: "Regardless of the MRI images, his response to the rehabilitation in the next few weeks is the most important. It will start carefully on the bike, carefully in relation to what he can tolerate from pain. Then you take it gradually."
Arsenal are also expected to be without inured new signing Mikel Merino, as he'll miss out alongside Rice, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Defender Riccardo Calafiori and striker Gabriel Jesus are both set to be assessed in the lead-up to the game, with Arteta hoping to have the pair available. As for Tottenham, £65million addition Dominic Solanke is facing a race against time to be fit but the derby will come too soon for fellow striker Richarlison.
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