Tottenham Hotspur defender Ben Davies will undergo surgery on a broken ankle, raising doubts over his availability for Wales’ World Cup play-off matches later this year.

The 32-year-old left-back suffered the injury 19 minutes into Spurs’ 2-1 Premier League defeat by West Ham on Saturday. Davies was given oxygen on the pitch before being carried off on a stretcher, with substitute Djed Spence replacing him.

A club statement confirmed:

“We can confirm that Ben Davies will undergo surgery today for a fracture of his left ankle.”

Tottenham have not provided a specific timeline for Davies’ return, leaving uncertainty over whether he will feature in Wales’ World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium on 26 March, or the subsequent final against the winner of Northern Ireland vs Italy on 31 March.

Impact on Tottenham

Davies’ injury adds to an already growing injury list at Spurs, with manager Thomas Frank under mounting pressure following a disappointing run in the Premier League. Tottenham are 14th in the table, having secured just seven wins from 22 games this season.

Fans expressed their frustration during the West Ham defeat, chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at Frank. Despite this, the manager remains in charge ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

Wales’ World Cup Play-Off Concerns

The injury is a significant blow for Wales. Manager Craig Bellamy recently described Davies as his “best player”, underscoring how vital the Spurs captain is to the national side.

Davies, who is the only player in the Wales squad to reach 100 international caps, has been a mainstay in multiple major tournaments, including Euro 2016, Euro 2020, and the 2022 World Cup. His leadership and experience will be invaluable in high-pressure World Cup play-off fixtures, making his absence a potential setback.

While Wales have coped without Davies in the past—he missed much of the qualification campaign due to a hamstring injury—they relied on the emerging talents of Joe Rodon (Leeds) and Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff) to finish second in their group behind Belgium.

However, the absence of Davies’ calm leadership and Premier League experience could impact Wales’ confidence in March’s critical matches. His ability to organize the defense and inspire teammates on the field is hard to replace.

Next Steps

Tottenham and Wales will monitor Davies’ recovery closely. Surgery will be followed by a rehabilitation period, the length of which will determine his availability for club and country. Spurs supporters will also hope for a smooth recovery, especially as Frank faces scrutiny over team performance.

For Wales, March’s World Cup play-offs are crucial. The team must weigh the options of relying on Rodon, Lawlor, or other defensive options in the absence of their seasoned captain.