Postecoglou says Spurs will seek to bolster squad in January transfer window

Tottenham face trip to high-flying Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day

Tottenham Hotspur's Rodrigo Bentancur, centre, will return from a seven-match ban against Nottingham Forest. Reuters

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou said the club are planning to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window.

Injuries and suspensions have led to hugely inconsistent performances that have seen Spurs slide to 11th place in the Premier League table over the past month.

Postecoglou's side thrashed champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium late last month but they were hammered 6-3 by league leaders Liverpool on Sunday.

In between, they were beaten 4-3 at home by London rivals Chelsea before scraping a thrilling 4-3 win over Manchester United in the League Cup quarter-finals last Thursday.

Next up is a Boxing Day trip to fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, and Postecoglou confirmed ahead of the game that the club will seek to boost their depleted squad in January.

“Like I said a while ago, we’ve been planning. A lot of it was going to be around where we’re at around this time. Fair to say we’re still a little bit short in a couple of areas and we need to reinforce,” said Postecoglou.

“January’s trickier in terms of what sort of players you can bring in. For us, ideal – for any club, I guess – you want to bring in people who are going to make you stronger.

“I think the fact that, obviously, we’re still in the League Cup semi-final, still got Europe, FA Cup, we’re in all the competitions, it’s not like our schedule’s going to ease up at any stage. So, I think it makes sense. We will try and reinforce. Where and what number we’ll have to wait and see.

“You don’t just want to panic and bring in anybody that you don’t think will help our cause in the back half of the year, but I think we’ve already shown we are pretty methodical and prudent about our work. We’ll make sure we’ll bring somebody in who is going to help us.”

The defeat at home to Liverpool means Spurs have suffered three losses in their past five Premier League games, while also trying to juggle their cup commitments.

The poor results have come as they struggle to cope with a lengthy casualty list that includes Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven. Postecoglou has refused to criticise his team given the injury count that has hit the squad.

The Australian said: “I can’t be critical of this group of players at the moment in any sense. I think it would be unfair for anyone to because what they’re doing is they’re giving absolute maximum effort.

Tottenham 3 Liverpool 6 - in pictures

“That’s backed up by the physical parameters you put against what they’re doing. They’re trying to do it in the way that I’m asking them to.

“So how can I be critical of that? I think that would be hypocritical of me. The players are doing their part. They’re doing it to the maximum of their ability and it’s a credit to them.

“I still think in the long term that’s going to hold us in good stead.”

There is some good news for Postecoglou as Rodrigo Bentancur will make his comeback against Forest after serving a seven-match domestic ban for racist remarks but his manager will not be able to celebrate the midfielder's return with family on Christmas Day.

“No, it’s a family tradition mate that I’m on my own. The family is in a warmer climate in Australia,” Postecoglou said.

“We have a couple of young boys, so it’s important they are around family at this time. I will give them a call in the morning and then get on about my day.”