Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou says he is “planning for every scenario” in the January transfer window – and points out that two of his unused substitutes in Thursday's Europa League draw against Roma were 16-year-old students.
Defender Malachi Hardy and midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett are yet to sign their professional contracts and went to school on Friday after sitting on the Spurs bench on Thursday night 2-2 draw against Roma.
Tottenham is one of several clubs competing in the Premier League and Europe whose squad is stretched due to injuries.
Postecoglou was asked to assess his team's season so far, which sits sixth in the league, ahead of ninth-placed Fulham's visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (13:30 GMT).
“Again we had four schoolboys on the bench last night (including Callum Olusesi and Maeson King), two of them were actually at school this morning,” he said.
“We work pretty hard with some pretty limiting factors and are still able to remain competitive in the competitions we enter.”
“We are in a good position to progress to the next round and have had to deal with some adversity. I think our season has been solid so far.”
“Obviously there have been some extremes that are affecting people's view of where we are. I always try to take a step back and take a broader perspective.”
Spurs are currently without seven players, including defender Cristian Romero, who Postecoglou says is “close but unlikely” to start against Fulham.
Micky van de Ven (hamstring injury) and teenager Mikey Moore (illness) could return before January, while Rodrigo Bentancur is currently suspended until Boxing Day for a racist insult Appeal to reduce a seven-game ban.
Asked if January transfer activity was the answer, the Australian coach said he had had “a series of meetings” with technical director Johan Lange to work out a “strategy for January”.
Postecoglou added: “A lot will depend on where we are as a squad at that point.”
“Only Romero and Van de Ven will be back from time to time during this period, but Richarlison will hopefully be back in the new year and we will just assess where we are team-wise.”
“I think last year we did a little bit of business [Radu Dragusin and Timo Werner] That ultimately helped us, but now there is nothing concrete because January is always difficult.
