Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has revealed that four of his players have been struck down by a sickness bug in recent days.
Spurs headed into Sunday's Premier League clash with Burnley knowing that one point would temporarily take them above Arsenal into the Champions League places following their North London derby success.
The Italian has been loath to change a winning formula this season and that did not cease on Sunday, with Davinson Sanchez once again deputising for the injured Cristian Romero.
Oliver Skipp, Matt Doherty, Japhet Tanganga and Sergio Reguilon also remain confined to the infirmary, but there was a notable change up top, with Lucas Moura given the nod.
Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, was nowhere to be seen in the first XI, and Conte subsequently revealed that the benched Swede had fallen victim to illness alongside a few of his teammates.
Speaking to BT Sport during his pre-match interview, Conte explained: "Only yesterday to prepare for the game but this is the schedule and we have to play.
"Honestly there was a problem because yesterday Kulusevski didn't do the training session, he was sick with a stomach problem. He was not the only player to have this, maybe a virus came around into the team.
"Yesterday four players but it is ok. Kulusevski didn't have the training session, we have Lucas Moura. That is good and he came off the bench and I hope he is ready to come in.
"When you play against [Burnley] you know you have to fight, to try to play football but at the same time you have to go on the same level and win the duels. I have seen the formation. They're coming here to defend. We have to be ready to play well."
Some Spurs fans were quick to liken the recent bout of illness to the "Lasagne Gate" of 2006, where numerous Tottenham players fell ill on the last day of the Premier League season and lost out on a top-four spot to their North London rivals.
Tottenham's North London derby victory over Arsenal has left them just one point behind the Gunners but with a significantly better goal difference than their North London rivals.
The pressure will be on Mikel Arteta's side for Monday's trip to Newcastle United before they round off their season against Everton, while Spurs do battle with Norwich City on matchday 38.
Talisman Harry Kane was not one of the players affected by the sickness bug, and the England captain is out to make Premier League history in the clash with the Clarets. body check tags ::
