Huge boost for Tottenham but key quartet missing for Barcelona clash

Hugo Lloris has given Tottenham a huge boost before Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Barcelona but four key stars are missing.

The club captain has been missing recently with a thigh injury sustained in the win at Manchester United but is back in training and is set to take on Ernesto Valverde’s men at Wembley.

Speaking at his press conference ahead of the game, Pochettino said: “Hugo is available and if nothing happens before the game he will play.”

There was not such good news on Spurs’ other injured stars, with Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen and Dele Alli all missing from training and ruled out of the game.

Vertonghen and Dembele came off at half-time at Huddersfield on Saturday while Eriksen has been carrying a groin problem and Alli has a hamstring injury.

Michel Vorm (knee) and Serge Aurier (thigh) are also receiving treatment and are unlikely to feature.

Pochettino added: “It is a period when we are not in good luck with injuries. We have players with different injuries. It’s not a pattern that happens from something specific.

“We are not victims though. We must feel strong. Every players must feel they can win and achieve what we want.”

With Eriksen and Alli both on the sidelines, Pochettino could call on Erik Lamela to provide creativity from an attacking midfield role, with the Argentine notching three goals in his five appearances in all competitions this season.

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