Micky van de Ven’s latest issue is a finger/hand injury, and the Netherlands staff are treating it as minor.
That, of course, didn’t stop one Dutch website from deciding to choose a random fan account in order to make the injury sound worse than it was.
They blame AI, but it’s just more guano reporting.
The word “nasty” came from a fan account, not from the Netherlands staff or a major outlet.
@spurs_hereinfo posted last night that Micky van de Ven “was subbed off with a nasty hand injury” for the Netherlands against Serbia. That is the only clear use of “nasty” tied to this incident.
The official line is the opposite in tone. Netherlands coach Xavi said after the match that van de Ven was “ok” and that it was “not a big injury,” describing it as a finger problem that left him feeling dizzy. Reports say Luka Jovic stepped on his left hand, two fingers were strapped, and he later went off.
In the closing stages of the Netherlands’ 2-1 Nations League win over Serbia on Sunday, Luka Jovic accidentally landed on the Tottenham captain’s left hand while challenging for the ball.
Two of van de Ven’s fingers were strapped, and whilst he did try to continue, he later went off. The Netherlands had already used all five substitutes, so they finished the game with 10 men.
Netherlands coach Xavi said afterwards:
“He’s ok; he felt dizzy because he suffered with his finger. It’s not a big injury.”
Why not quote the gaffer? Maybe they weren’t watching the game?
Van de Ven is back with Tottenham now for further assessment. Early reporting suggests the club have avoided a serious setback and that he is a candidate for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Manchester United, subject to the Spurs medical check.
Context for Spurs: they are already without Pedro Porro (hamstring) and Jan Paul van Hecke (foot problem after he was also stepped on in an earlier Serbia game), so the back line is thin even if van de Ven is fine. Maybe that's the doom-and-gloom clickbait they were looking for?
In short, there’s no crisis to add to all the existing ones.
We are live again
We are live again this week, and the first show is with Sean on SpursTalkShow on Wednesday at noon!