‘Lockdown victim’ Lo Celso is playing through the pain barrier, admits Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO has revealed Giovani Lo Celso is playing through the pain for Tottenham, but played down the seriousness of Dele Alli’s hamstring injury ahead of tonight’s visit to Newcastle.

Lo Celso has started every match since the restart, despite his manager previously describing him as a “victim” of the lockdown after he was unable to get daily treatment on a persistent groin problem during the enforced break.

The Argentine has been substituted in the last two matches, but is expected to start again this evening, with Alli and Tanguy Ndombele rated major doubts as Mourinho aims for his first Premier League win at St James’ Park.

Asked if Lo Celso is still suffering, Mourinho told Standard Sport: “A little, yes. We are waiting for the end of the season, then with the three weeks more or less of holiday, and probably a month of pre-season, we think it’ll be enough time to take care of his problem.”

Record-signing Ndombele is unlikely to feature after tweaking his knee in training, while Alli is expected to miss a third game with a hamstring strain. The England midfielder has suffered repeated hamstring injuries over the past two years but Mourinho insists the issue is under control.

“I have no information that Dele needs anything surgical,” he said. “This time it was minor. That’s why I think if not for this match, then maybe for the next or the last one he can be ready. So, it’s nothing major, but an area where he had problems, where he has a history. We need to try to take control of it, which we’re doing. That’s probably why he’s not having big problems for the past month.”

Mourinho has insisted Ndombele remains part of his plans, but will have been left dismayed by the Frenchman’s latest complaint, having previously accused him of “always” being injured.

“He was training with the group that didn’t play against Arsenal and then he felt something behind his knee,” Mourinho said of Ndombele, who has played just 64 minutes since the restart. “It was nothing really big, but enough for him to leave the session.”

Right-back Serge Aurier will be left to decide whether he feels ready to play following the death of his brother, with Japhet Tanganga on standby.