Tottenham finished? Club leader suffers injury on international duty
Tottenham have received another worrying injury update during the international break.
Details: Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke has withdrawn from the national team squad because of an injury and will return to Tottenham for further assessment. The centre-back took part in Wednesday's final training session in Zeist but was forced to stop after only around seven minutes, speaking briefly with head coach Xavi Hernández before leaving the pitch.
The Dutch team's statement later confirmed that Van Hecke will not travel to Thessaloniki for the Nations League match against Greece. The defender picked up the problem during the previous away game against Serbia and has now been sent back to his club for treatment.
That means Van Hecke is set to miss the meeting with Greece as well as the following Nations League game against Serbia. The exact nature and severity of the injury have not yet been disclosed, leaving Tottenham waiting for the results of further medical checks.
The timing is far from ideal for Roberto De Zerbi's side, who return to Premier League action away to Manchester United on October 10. Van Hecke had started and completed both of the Netherlands' opening Nations League matches in this international window, against Germany and Serbia.
It is worth noting that Van Hecke joined Tottenham from Brighton in June 2026 and wears the number six shirt. The 26-year-old has already earned 18 senior caps for the Netherlands and scored one international goal.
Reminder: “They won by breaking the rules!” Pochettino erupts after verdict against Manchester City
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
