Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has now revealed why Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have not made the trip to Australia.
Although the Premier League campaign may have come to an end with a 3-0 victory over Sheffield United on Sunday, Spurs are now in Melbourne, Australia for a friendly.
Ange Postecoglou‘s men will be taking on Newcastle United at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground as the 58-year-old returns to his hometown.
The Australian has taken a squad of 24 players over to Melbourne for the game against Eddie Howe’s Magpies.
However, there have been some notable absences on the back of the game at Bramall Lane on the weekend.
One of those omissions is vice-captain Cristian Romero and another being midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – both featured against the Blades.
Speaking ahead of the game on Wednesday, Postecoglou has provided an insight as to why the Spurs duo have been left behind.
When do Tottenham play Newcastle United in Australia?
One more game awaits the Spurs squad before they can put their feet up for the summer following their first campaign under Postecoglou.
In unusual circumstances, Spurs jetted off straight after the game on Sunday for Australia where they will face Newcastle United in Melbourne.
The friendly will kick off on Wednesday 22 May at 10:45am (UK time) or 7.45pm local time.
But the fans will not be getting to watch the World Cup winning Romero in action after he was omitted from the trip alongside Hojbjerg.
The 58-year-old Tottenham manager has been speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of the friendly against the Magpies.
And he discussed the reasons why the senior duo of Romero and Hojbjerg did not make the trip.
“Cuti is more for personal reasons. He’s got to fly back to Argentina. Pierre had an injury going into the last game, he was kind of touch and go and after the game, pulled up sore,” he told the club’s website.
“Again, because we were getting straight on a flight, it didn’t make any sense when the flight is that long to bring guys like that along. Everyone else got through unscathed, so we’ll have a full compliment from the squad we took away and some young players as well who will get some game time.”
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s future expected to be away from Spurs
It has to be said, Postecoglou has previously slammed the idea that he was covering up Eric Dier‘s expected exit with an injury.
“He’s injured and pulled up sore in training and couldn’t take part. [The transfer rumour] is a separate issue, but don’t question my integrity. When I say he’s injured, he’s injured,” he slammed the media with back in January.
So this is not to suggest Hojbjerg has been left out in order to go and find himself a new club, however, the Dane is being heavily linked with a move away.
According to club insider Paul O Keefe, the midfielder now has five clubs from across Italy, Germany and Spain who are showing an interest in him this summer.
But with the Euros ahead of him and the expectation for him to move on, the trip to Australia may have proven unnecessary for all parties.