Ange Postecoglou has downplayed the significance of Micky van de Ven's injury after the Dutch player had to be substituted in Tottenham's decisive 4-0 victory over Unai Emery's ten-man Aston Villa.
Goals from James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Timo Werner sealed Spurs a comprehensive victory over their Premier League top-four rivals, but Van de Ven's substitution dampened some of the excitement of the visitors' win.
The Netherlands defender, making his eighth consecutive start for Spurs in all competitions, exited the field with a suspected leg issue just four minutes into the second half, with January signing Radu Dragusin coming on in his place at Villa Park.
Videos after the match suggested that Van de Ven was walking normally as he made his way to the tunnel, and the Tottenham head coach is optimistic that the former Wolfsburg player could recover quickly.
The north London club will travel across the capital to play mid-table Fulham next weekend before hosting Luton at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in two weeks.
When asked about Van de Ven's condition at his post-match press conference, Postecoglou informed reporters: 'I'm not sure. He doesn't think it's anything too serious.
So it's disappointing for him because he was outstanding until that point.
'It was great for Radu to come in, his first significant game-time in a big game, and I thought he handled it really well.'
Postecoglou believed that John McGinn's 65th-minute red card – after a reckless challenge on Destiny Udogie – had little impact on the result since Tottenham were already two goals ahead when the Scotland midfielder was sent off.
'I don't think it was a key moment. We were in control,' the Spurs head coach explained.
'Obviously it made it easier but it was just a by-product of the pressure we were putting on them.
'I don't think it was a malicious one from John.'
The Australian said he was 'really pleased' with Tottenham's performance as his side moved to within two points of fourth-placed Villa, while having a game in hand over Emery's team.
I was really pleased with the way we handled the whole day,' Postecoglou continued.
'Obviously we knew it was a significant game coming here, tough venue, good opponent. I just thought, obviously the atmosphere here, they get behind their team.
'I thought with all that, the context of all that, first half we did really well, just to make them work hard more than anything else, they had to try to contain us, and the threats they had we snuffed out.
'I had a sense towards the back end of the first half that they were beginning to really tire a little bit. That was the message at half-time, just to persevere, stay calm, play our football, maintain the intensity, which is going to be important. And we did.
'We started really well, the quality of our football was great, and we were able to finish the game.'
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