Spurs injury update as the 22-year-old aims to return to full fitness during the international break
Wales manager Rob Page has stated that he will not call up Tottenham striker for international action if he is not fully healthy in order to protect his health.
The 22-year-old, who joined from Nottingham Forest for a cost of £47.5 million in the summer, suffered a thigh injury in the North London Derby against Arsenal, which has kept him out since. He missed the triumph against Liverpool last weekend, as well as the encounter against Luton Town on Saturday afternoon, due to the problem.
While manager Ange Postecoglou conceded he’d miss the trip to Kenilworth Road, he claims he’ll be fit after the international break, which lasts two weeks. That leaves Wales manager Page with a major decision to make.
Johnson has already earned 21 appearances for his senior national team in the last three years, and while only scoring twice, he represents a new generation of Welsh footballers who are essential to the country’s future. Leaving a player like that out of your squad is difficult for an international manager, especially when their EURO 2024 qualification group is at stake.
Despite that, Page believes that it wouldn’t be fair to the player or his club to include him straight away without giving the respect they deserve. It’s something he’s spoken about before when the star missed out against Croatia back in March, with Page claiming Forest should’ve made him ‘stronger’. However, it appears as though he’s changed his tune following his move to Spurs, with the Wales boss claiming he’ll not ‘insist’ he has to join them for the reverse fixture next week. “The communication between us and Tottenham has been first-class. It’s about having mutual respect,” Page told the Daily Mail earlier this week. “Both managers want a talented player fit so it’s about working together.
“I’m not going to insist that he come away and we’ll play him, jeopardising his safety and health.” That is something I would never do. But they also recognise the significance of our games.”
When asked if he had spoken with the club personally, he responded, “We’ve had great conversations with them, but ultimately his injury will dictate whether he can meet up or not.”