Postecoglou praises skipper, but massive blow for Spurs

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou hailed a captain's display from Son Heung-min after a 3-2 win at Hoffenheim before he revealed the club's latest injury blow, with Dominic Solanke ruled out until March.

A brace from Son in Germany fired Spurs to a much-needed victory after a run of five defeats from their previous eight matches.

Postecoglou was without 14 players for the Europa League clash due to a combination of injuries and ineligibility, with Solanke one of those sidelined after he sustained a knee issue in training last Saturday.

Asked how long the STG65million ($A128m) forward would be out, Postecoglou admitted: "With Dom, the information now is that we are looking at around the six-week mark.

"No surgery. Maybe we can get him back a little bit earlier, just see how he progresses, but at this stage it's saying around six weeks."

While Postecoglou was able to hand the recently fit-again Richarlison his first start since October, Solanke's prolonged absence is a hammer blow, especially with crucial Carabao Cup and FA Cup fixtures to come in February.

A precious victory away to Hoffenheim does mean Tottenham should avoid the prospect of more fixtures in February, with a top-eight finish in the Europa League almost secured, which would send them directly through to the last-16 phase in March.

Vice-captain James Maddison was the first of Postecoglou's senior figures to step up with a third-minute opener before the England playmaker played in Son to fire home via a deflection after 22 minutes.

Hoffenheim rallied and reduced the deficit in the 68th-minute through Anton Stach, but Son seemed to ensure there would be no dramatic finale with a fine finish nine minutes later.

David Mokwa's 88th-minute header did make Tottenham sweat before they sealed a fourth triumph in Europe with five teenagers on the pitch at full-time after academy graduates Mikey Moore, Callum Olusesi and Will Lankshear were sent on to join starting duo Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall.

"I thought Sonny led from the front tonight with his football but also with his general actions and most importantly the goals," Postecoglou said.

"Look, we are all copping stick at the moment. That is the nature of the beast. What we do, as footballers and managers, we are all in the firing line at the moment. Whether it is warranted or not, you have to stand up and reply to it in the proper way. I thought he did that tonight.

"I thought Madders was outstanding tonight. These players are exhausted, mate. They are professional footballers who are just 24/7 trying to recover right now. All of them. They are giving everything."

At Old Trafford, Bruno Fernandes marked his 50th Europa League appearance with a stoppage-time winner as Manchester United snatched a 2-1 win over Rangers to move closer to the round of 16.

After Cyriel Dessers levelled in the 88th minute, Fernandes popped up with a crucial strike that will come as a huge relief to Ruben Amorim, days after a 3-1 home defeat to Brighton caused him to suggest this is "maybe" the worst side in the club's history before walking back on those remarks on Wednesday.

United had seen a first-half header from Matthijs De Ligt controversially ruled out but led through a bizarre own goal from their former back-up goalkeeper Jack Butland, who made good saves to deny Amad Diallo, Lisandro Martinez and Manuel Ugarte, but punched Christian Eriksen's corner into his own net.

The win moves United up to fourth in the standings, two clear of the cut off for the top-eight places.

In some of the other matches, RFS beat Ajax 1-0, Lazio defeated Real Sociedad 3-1, Fenerbahce drew 0-0 with Lyon, Olympiacos beat Porto 1-0 away, Alkmaar edged Roma 1-0 and Eintracht Frankfurt scored a 1-0 win over Ferencvaros.