Ange Postecoglou has two Richarlison replacements to choose from after Tottenham injury update

Richarlison will play no part for Tottenham this weekend when Ange Postecoglou’s side face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Missing two games at the start of March through a knee injury, the same issue will see the player watch on from the sidelines on Sunday when Nuno Espirito Santo’s team visit north London.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY on Friday, Postecoglou provided an update on team news and revealed that the Brazilian has had a “bit of a niggle” recently and needs some time to get over it. However, it is not an issue that will keep him out for a long period of time as he is expected to return to the matchday squad next weekend against Newcastle United.

“Yeah not too bad, the only one from the other night is Richy,” said Postecoglou when asked for the latest on the injury front. “He’s had a bit of a niggle with his knee so we’ll probably give him this weekend off just to get totally over it and hopefully he’ll be ready for Newcastle next week. Everyone else got through the game well and are ready to go.”

As Richarlison will be missing for this weekend’s game, Postecoglou has a decision to make when it comes to the attacker’s replacement in his matchday squad. Certainly needing another attacking option on the bench to provide cover for the likes of Timo Werner, Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min, it may mean Oliver Skipp misses out once again unless the head coach opts for a further midfielder on his bench.

There are two other options available to Postecoglou, though. football.london takes a look at the Tottenham duo below.

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Dane Scarlett

The door could open up for Scarlett to return to the Tottenham squad for the first time since last month’s 4-0 win over Aston Villa. Unfortunately not making the matchday 20 in recent weeks due to Richarlison’s return from injury, the striker got some minutes under his belt on Tuesday evening as he played for the club’s youngsters in their Premier League Cup quarter-final win over Aston Villa.

Prior to that appearance, Scarlett had excelled on international duty for England Under 20s during the recent break in play as he hit a hat-trick against Poland and then followed it up with two goals off the bench against Czech Republic. Even though Postecoglou will have to do without Richarlison this weekend through injury, the head coach still has Werner and Johnson as alternatives who can play through the middle.

Having an out-and-out striker on the bench is perhaps something Tottenham need in Richarlison’s absence and that could work in Scarlett’s favour. He may not get any minutes but having another striker in the squad can only be a good thing.

Bryan Gil

You have to go back until the middle of February for the last time Gil was involved in a Spurs matchday squad. The Spaniard was named on the bench for Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat against Wolves but he did not come on in the closing stages as the Lilywhites chased a point.

Since then, Gil has unfortunately had to watch on from the sidelines with Dejan Kulusevski, Werner and Johnson all ahead of him in the pecking order. The 23-year-old’s current situation at Spurs is rather bleak to say the least and it’s incredibly hard to see it changing between now and the end of the season and an increase in pitch time coming his way.

Gil could well be an option to take Richarlison’s place in the Tottenham squad against Nottingham Forest this weekend. However, it could be Scarlett who is just ahead of him at present due to the team’s lack of out-and-out strikers.