Tottenham's preparations for Manchester United will depend partly on how quickly Roberto De Zerbi can bring together players returning from an extended international break.
Tottenham will visit Old Trafford on Saturday, October 10, as domestic football resumes following an extended period of international matches. However, the squad's final week of preparation will involve staggered arrivals, with several players still representing their countries early in the week.
Omar Marmoush, Ben Davies and Micky van de Ven finished their international commitments on Sunday, putting them among the earlier potential arrivals for recovery work. Jan Paul Van Hecke has already returned to Hotspur Way following picking up a foot injury against Greece.
Luca Williams-Barnett, Lucas Bergvall and Sandro Tonali have Monday fixtures, while another group remains involved on Tuesday.
Tuesday commitments include Rodrigo Bentancur, Mateus Fernandes, Archie Gray, Mathys Tel, Martin Dubravka, Antonin Kinsky and Andy Robertson.
Bentancur's Uruguay fixture is in India, while the others have matches across Europe. The varying locations mean their journeys back to Tottenham will differ considerably.
That could create a challenge for De Zerbi and his staff. Returning to Hotspur Way does not automatically mean a player is ready for a demanding session, and both De Zerbi and Spurs need to hit the ground running against Manchester United following a disappointing start to the new season.
Recovery requirements will depend on minutes played, travel and individual condition. Someone who has completed several full matches may need a different programme from a teammate who spent much of the break on the bench.
The work completed by players who remained at the club could therefore prove useful. Tottenham's non-international group had already returned after a planned week off, allowing the coaching staff to work with them before the wider squad reconvened.
A productive final week does not necessarily require every footballer to complete identical workloads. It requires the group to understand De Zerbi's set-up for the game, but everyone needs to ensure their condition and fitness are ready for the demanding match.
Video analysis, shorter tactical sessions and discussions about individual responsibilities can support that process. Those methods become especially valuable when time on the training pitch is limited.
After an international period, players return from different coaching environments and match demands. Clear priorities can help the players refocus on Tottenham and the need to secure the first win of the season.
The return schedule makes this a demanding week, but it also gives De Zerbi a defined task: turn a squad arriving in stages into a team ready to perform together at Old Trafford.