Spurs were cautious with Van de Ven in the hope that he will be fully up to speed for the double-header against Liverpool and Aston Villa next week, which feels key to their hopes of salvaging the season – as well as perhaps Postecoglou’s future.
As has so often been the case for Spurs, however, it may prove to be a case of one in, one out after Van de Ven’s half-time replacement Radu Dragusin was forced off after appearing to jar his knee on landing.
Spurs will now face an anxious wait to discover if the Romanian has suffered a serious injury which would only increase the pressure on Van de Ven to stay healthy and hit the ground in the bigger tests to come.
Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League knockouts with a 3-0 win over Swedish club IF Elfsborg, sealed by goals from academy graduates Dane Scarlett, Damola Ajayi and Mikey Moore.
The way he took his goal to break the deadlock, bravely nodding home Dejan Kulusevski's cross, and unselfishly set up Ajayi’s fine strike with a smart one-two suggests he could be a useful option from the bench for Spurs, at least until Dominic Solanke is fit again.
