Tottenham star withdraws from international duty in another injury concern

Mathys Tel has been forced to withdraw from international duty due to injury.

The Tottenham Hotspur forward had been called up by France’s under-21 side this month.

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However, Tel will now return to his club just days after he appeared to hold his groin as he was substituted against Nottingham Forest.

The 20-year-old was replaced by Randal Kolo Muani in the 67th minute of Spurs’ 3-0 home defeat on Sunday.

Following the match, assistant manager Bruno Saltor confirmed Tel’s injury would be assessed before a decision was made on his international commitments.

As a result, the striker initially met up with France ahead of their Euro Under-21 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Iceland.

After being assessed by the national team’s medical staff, though, Tel has now withdrawn from the squad with a thigh injury.

He has subsequently been replaced in the side by Lens’ Rayan Fofana.

A return date is currently unknown, with Spurs next in action away to Sunderland on Sunday, April 12.

Tel has scored 12 goals in 20 caps for France at under-21 level but has struggled for his club this season.

Since making his move from Bayern Munich permanent in the summer, he has found the net just three times in 31 appearances.

Meanwhile, Spurs’ latest defeat has plunged them further into relegation trouble.

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Igor Tudor’s side sit just a point above the bottom three in 17th having failed to win any of their last 13 Premier League matches.

Spurs’ injury woes

Tel is the latest Spurs player to suffer an injury setback as the number of sidelined stars reaches nine.

Wilson Odobert is a long-term absentee; the winger is ruled out until November with a knee injury.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are also set to miss the remainder of the campaign.

The pair have missed the entire season so far after undergoing knee surgery and suffering a torn ACL in the summer, respectively.

Spurs could be boosted after the international break, with Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Ben Davies edging closer to a return.

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However, a return date is not yet known for midfielder Yves Bissouma, who has already missed their last four matches in all competitions.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario was set to undergo a hernia operation following Sunday’s clash with Forest.

The Italian is expected to be fit to return at home to Brighton on April 18.