Tottenham handed boost as PSG midfielder ruled out of UEFA Super Cup final through suspension

Tottenham have received a significant boost ahead of their UEFA Super Cup showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, as one of the French side’s key midfielders has been ruled out through suspension.

The clash in Udine on Wednesday will mark Tottenham Hotspur’s return to competitive action, just days before they begin their Premier League campaign against Burnley on Saturday. However, Thomas Frank still has selection challenges to navigate, with creative options limited due to injuries to James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, forcing him to rely on makeshift midfield solutions.

PSG manager Luis Enrique faces problems of his own, with RMC Sport reporting that midfielder Joao Neves will miss both the Super Cup final and PSG’s Ligue 1 opener. The Portuguese international’s suspension follows a controversial incident in PSG’s Club World Cup defeat to Chelsea, where he received a straight red card for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair. In the aftermath, Enrique himself was involved in a heated exchange with Joao Pedro.

While PSG’s squad depth should allow them to cover for Neves’ absence, Tottenham’s injury-hit attack remains a concern. The North London side are yet to replace their sidelined midfielders and Heung-min Son, though ongoing talks with Manchester City over a deal for Savinho could provide Frank with a timely boost in attacking options before the final.