Dele Alli will miss Tottenham’s home clash with Liverpool on Saturday after he picked up a hamstring injury on international duty.
The Spurs star is also a major doubt for Tottenham’s Champions League opener away to Inter Milan next Tuesday.
It is a further blow for manager Mauricio Pochettino who is also without under-fire captain Hugo Lloris for several weeks due to a thigh strain.
Pochettino is frustrated by the absence of Alli for both the visit of Liverpool and then the trip to Inter Milan on Tuesday evening as the club launch their Champions League campaign.
Alli suffered a hamstring injury against Spain in the first half and Tottenham are privately frustrated that the midfielder then completed the game.
The club also felt he played while carrying an injury at times during the World Cup this summer.
Pochettino said: ‘Alli is a bit unlucky, he suffered an injury after 20 minutes against Spain. We are disappointed because we’re going to miss him for this game and possibly Inter Milan but it is not a big issue.’
