Spurs searching for first win of league campaign
Sam Tabuteau
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Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend, still looking for their first points of the campaign as they travel to Nottingham Forest.
After a huge summer of change, upheaval was expected, yet the pressure is slowly building on Roberto De Zerbi after comprehensive defeats to Brentford and Newcastle.
Despite spending in excess of £300million this summer, there is little evidence that the scars of last season, when they secured top-flight survival on the final day, have been left behind.
Fitness concerns also continue to hamper De Zerbi, and he has admitted that the club’s pre-season tour has left his side physically ill-prepared for the start of the season.
Even the club’s newest signings have been unable to avoid the medical room, but De Zerbi says he hopes to have Savio, an £85m signing from Manchester City, back from a muscle injury in time to face Forest.
Despite coming off the bench to score and assist on debut against Charlton last week, the Brazilian was left out of the matchday squad against Newcastle after picking up an issue in training.
Doubt: Savio
AFP/Getty
Spurs desperately lacked cutting edge against Newcastle. But they will be boosted by the return of Mohammed Kudus, who came off the bench last weekend for his first appearance since January.
The Ghanaian has been out since the turn of the year after suffering a serious quad injury.
There was also more positive news on the injury front this week, with Dejan Kulusevski revealing that he has returned to full team training.
The Swedish playmaker has been out for over a year with a complicated kneecap injury but now appears to be closing in on a return to fitness.
Spurs will remain cautious with Kulusevski, who has undergone two separate surgeries to remedy the issue, but the 26-year-old finally looks to be making progress in his recovery.
The only pressing injury concern for De Zerbi is James Maddison, who suffered a shoulder fracture on the opening weekend against Brentford.
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The 29-year-old missed the defeat to Newcastle and will be assessed in the lead-up to Spurs’ trip to the City Ground on Saturday.
Deadline day signings Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo are expected to be registered in time for the weekend, though De Zerbi will confirm in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Tottenham predicted XI: Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Tonali, Fernandes; Savio, Marmoush, Tel
Doubts: Kulusevski, Maddison, Savio
Injured: Simons, Odobert
Time and date: 3pm BST on Saturday, September 5, 2026
Venue: City Ground
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