As per usual, Tottenham Hotspur have been ravaged by injuries to start the 2025/26 Premier League and Champions League seasons, and they actually came into the campaign with a trio of significant long-term absences in striker Dominic Solanke, winger Dejan Kulusevski, and attacking midfielder James Maddison.
Along the way, new signing Randal Kolo Muani was slow to get started with a dead leg, Cristian Romero recently picked up an injury, and star left back Destiny Udogie has been in and out with issues of his own, too.
Tottenham are still waiting for Solanke to round into form, while Romero missed both of the last two games against Monaco and Everton with a knock after pulling up with an injury in the pregame warmups last weekend before a horrid loss to Aston Villa.
According to Thomas Frank, via Spurs Global, all is improving on the injury front. Solanke and Romero are taking steps towards their returns, while Udogie is also making progress from his own recent injury woes that have forced Djes Spence back into the lineup.
Frank said, âDom stepped forward, step by step. Cuti on the pitch today, not a timeframe. Destiny on the pitch as well today. Three steps forward.â
Tottenham need Destiny Udogie back
Tottenham will face Newcastle on Wednesday in the League Cup before a massive battle with Chelsea at the weekend in another fiery London derby between two teams that are darkhorse Premier League title contenders behind the likes of Arsenal and a suddenly struggling Liverpool.
It's entirely unclear if these three players will be back in time for the Chelsea game, but Spurs fans will cross their fingers that captain Romero and Udogie can both be out there. Funnily enough, with how well Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso played last weekend in the 3-0 drubbing of Everton, Udogie may be the most important start of the three against the Blues and their electrifying right side of Reece James and Estevao Willian.
As for Solanke, we've yet to see him this season, and the all-around No. 9 figures to be an easy upgrade over Richarlison. But if Randal Kolo Muani balls out and draws the start in either the Newcastle or Chelsea game this week, then perhaps Solanke may not even get his job back as he works his way back from this injury.
Overall, these are three mildly encouraging updates on the injury front from Frank, who is getting more and more tight-lipped about returns. Which is, technically speaking, a good thing for Tottenham fans. You don't want to give it all away to Chelsea early.