Tottenham Receive Jan Paul van Hecke Injury Blow as Defender Leaves Netherlands Squad
Tottenham Hotspur have been handed another injury concern after Jan Paul van Hecke withdrew from the Netherlands squad during the current international break.
The defender picked up a foot injury during the Netherlands’ 2-1 victory over Serbia on Sunday. He subsequently missed the final training session in the Netherlands and has now been allowed to return to Tottenham for further assessment.
Van Hecke had been included in the Netherlands squad for their Nations League fixtures and had featured heavily during the international window. The centre-back completed the full 90 minutes in the Netherlands’ recent matches, making his withdrawal another concern for both the national team and Tottenham.
The 26-year-old joined Spurs from Brighton during the summer in a deal reported to be worth around £52 million. Since arriving in north London, he has quickly become an important part of Roberto De Zerbi’s defence and has started every Premier League match for the club so far.
Van Hecke had also scored in Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa immediately before the international break. His consistent involvement means any significant spell on the sidelines could leave De Zerbi with another defensive selection problem.
The Netherlands will therefore continue their international campaign without Van Hecke. The Dutch Football Association confirmed that he would not feature in the remaining fixtures and that no replacement would be called up, leaving the squad with 23 players.
For Tottenham, the immediate priority will be determining the seriousness of Van Hecke’s foot problem. The club will be hoping the injury is minor and that their summer signing can return to action as soon as possible.
The injury adds to Tottenham’s growing list of fitness concerns. The club have already been dealing with several absences, making Van Hecke’s situation particularly important ahead of the return to domestic football.
Spurs will now await a clearer medical assessment after the defender returns from international duty. Until then, the extent of his absence remains uncertain.
