- The Croatian joined Spurs in September 2023 but stays at old club until 2025
- Fellow loanee Alfie Devine also scored in KVC Westerlo’s 4-3 defeat yesterday
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism has gone at Old Trafford
Teenage talent Luka Vuskovic cannot join struggling Tottenham soon enough as the incoming defender continues to impress in Belgium, scoring a mesmerising bicycle kick.
Spurs confirmed the signing of the highly-rated 17-year-old from Hajduk Split in September 2023 but the signing came with a caveat – he was to stay at the Croatian outfit until 2025.
Vuskovic spent the second half of last season on loan at Polish side Rodamiak and this campaign at Belgian team KVC Westerlo.
The defender caught the attention of top British clubs including Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool after helping Hajduk win the Croatian Cup in 2023.
He also made his debut for the club aged 15 and became their youngest-ever goalscorer after finding the net just days after his 16th birthday.
Tottenham might not have expected to regret the delayed arrival too much but a recent defensive crisis has made Vuskovic’s electric form all the more painful for Ange Postecoglou.
Incoming Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic scored an amazing goal on Boxing Day
The talent signed for Spurs in 2023 but remained at Hajduk Split and will move in 2025
Fellow loanee Alfie Devine also scored for KVC Westerlo in a 4-3 defeat against Club Brugge
He struck his sixth league goal of the season for mid-table Westerlo against Club Brugge on Boxing Day and it was one to remember.
A ball comes looping in from the left flank and finds Australian wide man Jordan Bos at the back post, who heads it back into the heart of the box.
From nowhere, 6ft 5in Vuskovic throws his long legs into the air and unleashes a bicycle kick which flies past former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The wonderstrike completed a comeback at Brugge from two goals down, but Westerlo ended up slipping to a 4-3 defeat which leaves them in 11th on 23 points from 20 matches.
Fellow Spurs loanee Alfie Devine also scored in the loss, giving Postecoglou further cause to regret shipping the youngsters out as the club’s injury crisis deepens by the day.
Ben Davies, out since damaging a hamstring at Bournemouth at the start of December, returned to training this week with a view to returning against Wolves on Sunday.
But Postecoglou has ruled him out for another ‘couple of weeks’ after a setback in training.
The setback comes after Radu Dragusin limped off in the final minutes of a Boxing Day defeat at Nottingham Forest with an ankle complaint.
Ange Postecoglou is currently struggling with an immense injury crisis to his defence
Ben Davies faces a spell on the sidelines after an injury against Bournemouth this month
Radu Dragusin, meanwhile, trudged off against Nottingham Forest with an ankle issue
And Djed Spence will be banned against Wolves after a red card in stoppage time at the City Ground.
Central defenders Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven and goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario are all out with injuries.
‘It’s a bit early to tell,’ said Postecoglou when asked about the extent of Dragusin’s injury. ‘He tweaked an ankle and felt like couldn’t continue, we’ll have to wait and see.’
Spurs finished the game at Forest with 18-year-old Archie Gray and midfielder Yves Bissouma in central defence.
‘We’ve not many options,’ said Postecoglou. ‘We’re in a tough spot and have been for a while.
‘We’ve been getting through and keeping our fingers crossed but the nature of football and fixture scheduling means it’s always a fine line of getting through. This is another test and what have to deal with we will deal with.
‘I’ve never known it go one for this level and this period of time. We’ve had close to 10 first team players not available for a significant run of games. It’s definitely a first for me.’
