Tottenham: Micky van de Ven facing Champions League suspension risk in Monaco clash | OneFootball

The stand-in captain is walking a tightrope ahead of a possible ban

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Tottenham need Micky van de Ven to be on his best behaviour against Monaco tonight.

Players who receive three yellow cards in the Champions League are hit with a one-match ban and Van de Ven is one away from hitting that mark.

The Dutchman has been booked in both of Spurs' league phase matches so far against Villarreal and Bodo/Glimt.

That means a yellow card against Monaco would leave him suspended for Copenhagen's visit to north London on November 4.

Any absence would be one Spurs can ill-afford right now, with uncertainty over how long Romero's injury will keep him on the sidelines.

Ben Davies is also currently out, and both Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai, building up to fitness after injury issues of their own, were left out of Spurs' squad for the league phase of the competition.

As it stands, 16-year-old Jun'ai Byfield is the only centre-back cover unless Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha drop back into defence.

Van de Ven is the only Spurs player with two yellow cards to his name in the Champions League this season.

Xavi Simons, Richarlison, Randal Kolo Muani and Pedro Porro have all been booked once, giving them slightly more breathing room.