Spurs' friendly Down Under not a blunder - Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou has labelled Tottenham’s post-season friendly in Melbourne as a "unique opportunity" but admitted it is unlikely to become a regular occurrence.

Spurs announced earlier this month they would visit Australia after the Premier League season concludes to take on Premier League rivals Newcastle in an exhibition fixture.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground clash on 22 May has been roundly criticised due to player welfare concerns and for a lack of regard for the environment, a matter of weeks after Green Football Weekend. Euro 2024 starts just over three weeks later and the Copa America a week after that.

However, Postecoglou defended the merits of the post-season friendly, which will see the 58-year-old return to his home city.

"We leave straight after the last game (at Sheffield United) and we’ll be taking everyone who’s fit," Postecoglou revealed.

"We thought that with our season being so disrupted and not a lot of games, this was a unique opportunity for us.

"I wouldn’t see this as something that would happen on a regular basis unless we felt the benefits would outweigh the costs.

"On this occasion when we balanced everything up, we felt it was a good opportunity to take the club to the other side of the world and help us continue to grow the football club."

England boss Gareth Southgate was recently asked about the friendly, which will involve Euro 2024 hopefuls Kieran Trippier, Anthony Gordon and James Maddison, and predicted post-season fixtures will happen more often.

Southgate expressed his hope that none of his players would suffer injuries.

But Postecoglou insisted: "I’m sure Gareth will be a club coach one day and he’ll get a different perspective, as he has been in the past.

"I don’t think Gareth has said