Manchester United have been handed a major boost ahead of their Premier League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur next month.
Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke has been forced to leave the Netherlands camp after suffering a foot injury against Serbia, potentially ruling him out of the clash with United.
The 26-year-old has become an important figure for Spurs since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in a £52 million deal, with manager Roberto De Zerbi playing a key role in bringing him to North London.
Van Hecke has started all five games for Tottenham this season and also scored against Aston Villa.
The centre-back has impressed with his composure in possession and ability to carry the ball out from the back.
His potential absence could leave Tottenham without a key outlet in their build-up play.
If the defender fails to recover in time, De Zerbi could be forced to turn to Tosin Adarabioyo or Marcos Senesi to fill the void.
Spurs could also be without right-back Pedro Porro, who is expected to miss the clash after suffering a hamstring injury that forced him to withdraw from the Spain squad.
Tottenham are currently 20th in the Premier League after collecting just two points from their opening five games.
United have endured their own nightmare start to the 2026/27 campaign, with only one win in five matches.
The international break has certainly compounded problems for United head coach Michael Carrick.
Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui have both suffered injuries while on international duty, leaving Carrick with a major headache at left-back.
Bruno Fernandes was also forced to miss Portugal’s second international fixture because of fitness concerns, although the United captain has since returned to training.
Carrick will now hope his key players can overcome their respective setbacks and return in time for what could be a crucial clash with Tottenham.
Stats from Fotmob.com
