Van de Ven and Maddison picked up injuries in November (Picture: Getty)
James Maddison and Micky van de Ven are ‘nowhere near’ returning to training with the Tottenham squad.
The Spurs duo, signed from Leicester City and Wolfsburg respectively in the summer, instantly became key figures in Ange Postecoglou’s starting XI until injury struck in November.
Both were forced off before half-time in the 4-1 defeat to Chelsea with van de Ven suffering a ‘significant’ hamstring injury with Maddison unable to continue after suffering an ankle problem.
Speaking last month, Postecoglou would not put a precise timeline on their returns, suggesting it would be ‘the New Year’ before the duo will be available.
Asked for a further update on Friday, the Spurs explained that while the two are still not involved in training, he still hopes for a return before the end of January.
Rodrigo Bentancur is also looking at a similar return date after suffering an ankle injury in the defeat to Aston Villa last month.
‘They’re both in rehab and neither of them are anywhere near training with the first team at the moment,’ Postecoglou said.
Postecoglou hopes to have the two back by the end of January (Picture: Getty)
‘If you look at timelines, Micky and Madders did it in pretty much in the same game. Micky might be just ahead of schedule in terms of with Madders. Both kind of January and (Rodrigo) Bentancur fairly similar.
‘It’s not about trying to not give out information, these things kind of either accelerate or get delayed when you get into the final phase.
‘Until I see them out with us, it’s hard for me to say.’
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Spurs welcome in-form Everton to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday afternoon where they will also be without the suspended Destiny Udogie and Yves Bissouma.
Udogie will miss one match after picking up his fifth booking of the season against Nottingham Forest while Bissouma will serve a four-match ban after receiving his second straight red card of the campaign.
Brennan Johnson and Giovani lo Celso will be available for the visit of the Toffees.
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