Why Micky van de Ven is not playing for Tottenham against Brentford

Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Micky van de Ven was a notable absence from the teamsheet to face Brentford on Sunday.

The Dutchman had missed 22 Spurs games across all competitions after picking up a hamstring injury in October, with his absence coinciding with periods out of the team for Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie among many others.

The 23-year-old was back in Tottenham's side for the Europa League win over Elfsborg in midweek, playing the opening 45 minutes before being replaced by Radu Dragusin at half-time.

Dragusin added to Spurs' injury woes by limping off 20 minutes into the second half of that game, leading many to believe that Van de Ven would start once more for Spurs in west London.

But he was nowhere to be seen on Spurs' teamsheet an hour before kick-off - neither in the starting lineup and on the bench - and Postecoglou explained that his absence was precautionary and a managing of minutes rather than an injury flare up.

"We're just trying to manage his minutes," Postecoglou told Sky Sports. "It is a quick turnaround and I spoke with the medical team and Micky to give him another week of training to be ready in another week."

Postecoglou had indicated before the game that Van de Ven was not ready for a full tilt return to action, saying in his pre-match media duties: "Probably not 90 because of the short turnaround but he felt really good last night. It was great to have him out there.

"You know he is a good player but you don't realise how much of a good player he is until [he's not there]. I guess that is the case with all of our players who have been missing for quite a while. It's not just the impact they have individually but the impact they have on the group."

Tottenham started the game with impressive teenager Archie Gray lining up alongside Ben Davies in central defence, with new signing Kevin Danso not eligible to make his first appearance for the club.

The Austrian has joined on loan from Lens with an obligation to buy, and Postecoglou was clearly pleased to have secured the 26-year-old: "It's brilliant, I think Kevin will be a great fit for us, we've been short at the back for a while, he's experienced, a good one-on-one defender and, again, I've said before getting new players gives us energy."

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