Tottenham’s injury crisis officially worse than any other English side playing in Europe with staggering 213 absentees

ANGE POSTECOGLOU has a point — Tottenham’s injuries have hit them more than any Prem club.

And Spurs’ crisis is statistically 25 per cent worse than any top-flight side competing in Europe this season.

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In total, they have had 213 absentees across their 39 fixtures, which is a whopping 44 more than the next most badly hit — North London rivals Arsenal.

Those numbers back up Aussie boss Postecoglou, who claimed after Sunday’s 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Aston Villa that critics are not factoring in the crippling effect of injuries when blaming him for  Spurs’  poor form.

Under-fire Postecoglou was without ELEVEN crocked first-team stars for the fourth-round tie at Villa Park.

Remarkably, that was the FIFTH game this season the absentee list due to injury or illness has hit double figures.

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All of those have come since mid-January and largely ruled out crucial men, including keeper Guglielmo Vicario, defenders Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, as well as forwards Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke.

Spurs have not had one game this term without a player missing through injury or illness but the crisis took hold in the last two months.

Since the December 12 Europa League tie at Rangers, Spurs have not had a single fixture without fewer than SIX players out.

They have plummeted to 14th in the Prem and are now out of both domestic cups, with the Villa defeat coming after last week’s Carabao Cup semi-final exit to Liverpool.

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Postecoglou snapped at Villa Park: “There’s got to be a better appreciation for what a very small group of players have been doing for the last 2½ months.”

And he claimed the criticism was “agenda-driven” to get him the sack.

Spurs' injury and illness absentees' list broken down

Here is a full look at Tottenham's injuries throughout the season...

• Leicester A - Forster (1)

• Everton H - Bentancur + Solanke (2)

• Newcastle A - Richarlison + Bentancur (2)

• Arsenal H - Bissouma + Richarlison (2)

• Coventry A - Bissouma + Richarlison (2)

• Brentford - Odobert + Richarlison (2)

• Qarabag H - Odobert + Richarlison (2)

• Manchester United A - Odobert, Richarlison + Son (3)

• Ferencvaros A - Udogie, Odobert, Richarlison + Son (4)

• Brighton A - Odobert, Richarlison + Son (3)

• West Ham H - Odobert (1)

• AZ Alkmaar H - Son (1)

• Crystal Palace A - Son (1)

• Manchester City H - Spence, Odobert + Son (3)

• Aston Villa H - Spence, Van de Ven + Odobert (3)

• Galatasaray A - Spence, Van de Ven, Romero, Moore, Werner, Odobert + Richarlison (7)

• Ipswich H - Van de Ven, Moore, Odobert + Richarlison (4)

• Manchester City A - Romero, Van de Ven, Moore, Odobert + Richarlison (5)

• Roma H - Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Moore, Odobert + Richarlison (6)

• Fulham H - Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Moore, Odobert, Richarlison + Solanke (7)

• Bournemouth A - Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Moore, Odobert + Richarlison + (6)

• Chelsea H - Vicario, Davies, Odobert, Moore + Richarlison (5)

• Rangers A - Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert, Moore + Richarlison (7)

• Southampton A - Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert + Richarlison (6)

• Manchester United H - Vicario, Udogie, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Werner, Odobert + Richarlison (8)

• Liverpool H - Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert + Richarlison (6)

• Nottingham Forest A - Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert + Richarlison (6)

• Wolves H - Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert + Richarlison (6)

• Newcastle H  - Vicario, Forster, Udogie, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Moore, Odobert + Richarlison (9)

• Liverpool H - Vicario, Forster, Udogie, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Odobert + Richarlison (8)

• Tamworth A - Vicario, Forster, Udogie, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Bentancur, Odobert + Richarlison (8)

• Arsenal A - Vicario, Forster, Udogie, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Bentancur, Odobert + Werner (9)

• Everton A - Vicario, Udogie, Van de Ven, Romero, Bissouma, Bentancur, Odobert, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (10)

• Hoffenheim A - Vicario, Udogie, Van de Ven, Romero, Bissouma, Sarr, Odobert, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (10)

• Leicester H - Vicario, Udogie, Van de Ven, Romero, Spence, Odobert, Maddison, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (10)

• Elfsborg A - Leicester H - Vicario, Udogie, Romero, Odobert, Maddison, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (8)

• Brentford A - Vicario, Udogie, Dragusin,  Romero, Odobert, Maddison, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (9)

• Liverpool A - Vicario, Udogie, Dragusin, Van de Ven Romero, Odobert, Maddison, Werner, Johnson + Solanke (10)

• Aston Villa A - Vicario, Romero, Van de Ven, Dragusin, Udogie, Maddison, Johnson, Werner, Odobert, Richarlison + Solanke (11)

Total 213

Postecoglou said no other club has had to deal with the same amount of injuries  — and the stats support him.

Of English sides competing in Europe this term, Spurs have had 213 absentees through illness and injury.

In comparison, Arsenal have 169, Manchester City 158, Manchester United 157, Liverpool 100, Aston Villa 97 and Chelsea just 79.

It is not just the quantity of absentees but the individuals missing, too.

Back-up full-backs Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney account for 55 of the Arsenal total of 169 — more than 30 per cent. Yet first-choice centre-backs Van de Ven and Romero amount to 52 of Spurs’ 213.

Frustrated fans point to the fact that both Romero and Van de Ven started in league defeats to  Arsenal, Brighton, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

While many also suspect Postecoglou’s intense training methods contribute to the high volume of muscle injuries, which also happened at his previous clubs.

But sessions are understood to have been extremely light over the last few months due to the relentless schedule.

The ex-Celtic boss said last week: “I know people look at our training, but I guarantee you we’ve hardly trained for the past four months.

“We’re looking at our processes but the wiser thing to do is stay calm, investigate it properly and make sure we make the right decisions.”

Crucially, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has factored in the injury crisis when analysing the alarming form.

There does appear to be light at the end of the tunnel with some players very close to a return.

Then the pressure will truly be on Postecoglou with no injury excuses, legitimate as they are, to fall back on.

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After all, it was he who unnecessarily upped the ante by declaring in September he “always wins things” in his second year” in a job.

To do that he will have to go all the way in the Europa League, which represents Spurs’ last shot at salvation.

Injury and absentee list for English clubs competing in Europe

Spurs are well ahead of the list in terms of English sides competing in Europe...

• Spurs 213
• Arsenal 169
• Man City 158
• Man Utd 157
• Liverpool 100
• Aston Villa 97
• Chelsea 79