ANGE POSTECOGLOU's job is safe for now, but he faces a big week in his Tottenham tenure.
The 59-year-old Aussie is the bookmakers' favorite to become the next Prem boss to be sacked after Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Everton saw them one win in 10 league games.
But he retains the support of chairman Daniel Levy, who wants to give him time to turn around the club's fortunes.
That confidence will be tested over seven days with three major matches.
Spurs travel to Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday knowing victory would put them on the brink of automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
They are ninth in the table and can avoid a play-off in February if they finish in the top eight.
On Sunday they host Leicester in the Prem, which has lost its last seven league matches.
If they beat the Foxes, they could be 11 points clear of the drop zone.
That would give Postecoglou the breathing space to focus on domestic cup competitions and Europe ahead of the final group match at home to Swedish side Elfsborg on Thursday.
Spurs are languishing in 15th place in the Prem after a 12th league defeat at Goodison this season.
But a crippling injury list is being taken into account, meaning TEN first-team players missed the defeat on Merseyside.
SunSport understands the club will give Postecoglou at least until the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final in Liverpool on February 6, with the Londoners leading 1-0.
But any major mistake in between could convince the trigger-happy Levy to take action.
If Spurs were to make a change, Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and Brentford's Thomas Frank are likely contenders.
But Postecoglou, who guided Spurs to fifth place in his first season, remains confident of victory.
He said: “There is motivation to get through this so that when we get our players back we can get something important out of our season.”
Postecoglou will not put public pressure on club chiefs to move faster in the transfer market but has said “help” is needed for his injury-hit squad.
Meanwhile, defender Radu Dragusin received four stitches after taking a blow to the head from Dominic Calvert-Lewin's elbow during a high ball match at Everton.
Dragusin received prolonged treatment as blood flowed from the wound and came loose during the break.
But the Romanian is believed to be fine for the match against Hoffenheim.
Spurs yesterday recalled 20-year-old striker Dane Scarlett from his loan spell at Oxford but plan to outsource him again due to his lack of game time at U's.
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