Ange Postecoglou answered "yes" when asked if Tottenham could still afford to lose Bayern Munich target Eric Dier this month after Ben Davies became the latest Spurs player to suffer a hamstring injury in the 1-0 win over Burnley in the FA Cup third-round.
Pedro Porro's screamer 12 minutes from time was enough for Spurs to progress on Friday night but it came at a cost, with Davies now expected to be sidelined.
Dier has agreed terms with Bayern Munich and is considered a serious option for the Bundesliga champions this month, and the 29-year-old was left out of the squad for Friday's win over the Clarets with Postecoglou insisting he was injured.
The head coach bristled when a reporter appeared to suggest that the link to Bayern may be the reason for Dier's absence, saying: "Separate issue mate but don't question my integrity.
"When I say he's injured, he's injured. He didn't train yesterday. I can get Vision [Spurs' training footage] in for you, you can ask him. It's got nothing to do with anything else.
"When you ask me whether he's injured, he's injured. I didn't make that up. If he wasn't injured I'd say he wasn't selected. It's easy for me to say.
"He's injured and in terms of anything else that's happening, not on my radar. Not that I've heard of. If there is something I'm sure I'll hear of it, but fair to say in the last 24 hours we've been focusing on the game and the guys that are available."
Postecoglou revealed Davies had "done his hamstring" during the match and then asked if he could still let Dier go this month, replied simply: "Yes."
The Australian was pleased for the "outstanding" Porro, who settled the game with a dipping strike from 25-yards, ensuring Spurs avoided an unwanted replay at Turf Moor.
"Credit to him," Postecoglou said. "I love Pedro because from the day I arrived he's got so much passion and energy and enthusiasm for the game. He's worked really, really hard on the defensive side of his game.
"Obviously it's a different kind of role.
"He's used to playing as a wing-back and he's got a lot more defensive responsibility but we always knew he had the attacking qualities. He's shown that not just tonight. During the season he's been a really big part of the creative part of our game.
"He's probably just missed a few goals this season, he's hit the post a couple of times and been unlucky.
"Really pleased for him and credit to him because he's worked really hard on his game and continues to do so. He's still a young man. He's been outstanding for us."
Ryan Sessegnon played the final seven minutes plus stoppages on his first appearance for 11 months, having undergone hamstring surgery in the summer.
"It wasn't always the plan to play him tonight and give him minutes, but I thought if the game was going the way the game was going, it made sense to give him some time out there," Postecoglou said.
"He has missed a lot of football and it will take him a while, but it's where we're at. We've got three centre halves on the bench, young kids on the bench so we're at bare bones but this group of players keep finding a way."
