From bad to worse for De Zerbi as second Spurs mainstay suffers injury blow pre-United trip after Van Hecke

Micky van de Ven was brought off in the closing stages of the Netherlands’ clash with Serbia last night after suffering an injury to his finger.

The Tottenham Hotspur captain felt the weight of Luka Jovic landing on his left arm after the pair were challenging for a ball in the dying embers of the Nations League tie, which led to Van de Ven being withdrawn.

Van de Ven sparks injury concerns for Spurs

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Van de Ven was in visible pain with his left hand, prompting treatment from the medical staff before they decided it was best he came off altogether.

When pressed on the defender’s condition post-match, Xavi Hernandez said: “He’s okay. He felt dizzy because he suffered (an injury) in the finger. It’s not a big injury.”

Still, it’s one that Roberto De Zerbi will have to keep an eye on ahead of his side’s trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United this Saturday.

Last week, Van de Ven’s club and international teammate Jan Paul van Hecke had to leave the Netherlands camp after he sustained an injury of his own.

As well as Van de Ven: What happened to Van Hecke?

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The former Brighton and Hove Albion man had his foot stepped on during his nation’s previous encounter with Serbia last Sunday.

It was subsequently decided that Van Hecke should report back to Tottenham so that they could assess his problem and potentially have him undergo scans.

As things stand, it remains to be seen if the two centre-backs will recover in time to feature against the Red Devils this weekend.

United are also navigating fitness concerns themselves; Benjamin Sesko missed the draw with Fulham prior to the break, Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo pulled out of the England squad, and Patrick Dorgu was sent home from the Denmark camp after he suffered a non-contact issue.