Thomas Frank issues blunt eleven-word injury update on Lucas Bergvall at Tottenham
Lucas Bergvall endured a worrying moment on Sunday evening after being forced to leave the pitch during the second half of Tottenham Hotspur’s narrow victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Spurs signed off the 2025 calendar year on a positive note, edging past the Eagles 1-0 in the Premier League to halt a short run of disappointing results. While the performance itself left room for improvement, the three points proved vital in keeping Tottenham within touching distance of the European places.
The visitors had to withstand a lively opening from Palace, who looked sharp and aggressive in the early stages. Tottenham briefly thought they had struck first after just 17 minutes when Richarlison turned the ball home, only for celebrations to be cut short. Lucas Bergvall was adjudged to have been in an offside position during the build-up, and the goal was chalked off following a swift review.
Rather than allowing the setback to knock their confidence, Spurs gradually settled into the contest. Against the run of play, they found the breakthrough shortly before the interval. A Pedro Porro corner caused chaos in the Palace box, with headers from Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison keeping the move alive. The ball eventually dropped invitingly for Archie Gray, who showed great composure to nod in from close range in the 42nd minute, scoring his first-ever senior goal.
Crystal Palace returned after the break with renewed urgency, increasing the tempo and committing more bodies forward in search of an equaliser. Tottenham largely sat deep and looked to manage the game, but they almost doubled their advantage midway through the second half. Richarlison once again found the net from close range, only for VAR to intervene, ruling him offside for a second time on the night.
As the Eagles threw everything forward in the closing stages, Tottenham’s defensive resolve was put to the test. Despite sustained pressure and a flurry of late attacks, the Lilywhites held firm, showing resilience and organisation to see out the win and head back to North London with all three points.
Thomas Frank offers update on Bergvall injury
While the result brought relief and satisfaction, the evening was not without concern for Tottenham supporters. Lucas Bergvall, who was handed a start in the No.10 role due to Xavi Simons’ suspension, was forced off in the 63rd minute after appearing to pick up a groin issue.
The young midfielder worked hard to influence the game, showing flashes of quality with some neat touches and intelligent passing, but struggled to impose himself consistently in the final third. His early withdrawal immediately raised questions about his availability for Tottenham’s next fixture.
Speaking after the match, head coach Thomas Frank was asked whether Bergvall would be fit in time for the upcoming clash with Brentford on New Year’s Eve. The Dane offered a cautious but reassuring response, saying:
“Yes, I hope so (that he is okay). Of course, we will assess him tomorrow.”
Frank’s brief update is likely to calm some nerves among the Spurs fanbase, though the midfielder’s condition will be closely monitored. Any injury that forces a substitution is rarely ideal, but the fact that Bergvall was able to walk off the pitch with assistance from a physio suggests the issue could be minor, potentially just a knock or muscle tightness rather than anything serious.
The win at Selhurst Park lifted Tottenham to 11th in the Premier League table, and perhaps more importantly, left them just four points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, keeping hopes of a late push up the standings alive. However, squad availability remains a concern heading into the final fixtures of the festive period.
Xavi Simons is set to miss two more league matches following his red card in the defeat to Liverpool, and if Bergvall is ruled out, Frank may be forced into further tactical adjustments when Spurs travel to face Brentford later this week. Supporters will be hoping the Swedish teenager recovers swiftly and is ready to feature in Tottenham’s first match of 2026 at the Gtech Community Stadium.