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Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that both James Maddison and Dominic Solanke could return to action sooner rather than later.

Maddison has missed the entire campaign so far, after suffering an ACL tear in pre-season. He has been named on the bench in the past three matches but is yet to feature.

“I am thinking about James Maddison,” De Zerbi admitted. “Because I am watching a top, top player.

“Maybe he is not ready yet to play not as a physical condition, but for the rhythm or intensity of the game. You are playing in Premier League, the most difficult league in the world for rhythm and intensity.”

The Italian coach also had positive news on the progress of striker Solanke.

“About Solanke, he is improving very quickly,” he continued. “I don’t know if for this game. We hope for the next game at Stamford Bridge.”

Spurs will continue their battle for survival at home against Leeds on Monday night. However, they will again be without first choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

“No, Vicario is not ready yet,” said the Tottenham manager. “I don’t know what the plan will be.

“He’s suffering because he would like to help the team and his team-mates. But he’s not available yet.”

Spurs sit perilously close to relegation with just three matches remaining. They are currently just one point above the drop zone.

De Zerbi continued to confirm that there have been no fresh injury blows for his side at this crucial point in this season.

The Italian said: “No. I’m happy because we are working well with all the players. It’s another important week for us.”

Roberto De Zerbi stressed that his Spurs players must remember the situation they have found themselves in after recording back-to-back Premier League wins.

Tottenham had not won a Premier League game in 2026 before their victory over Wolves last week but made it two wins in a row by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to climb out of the relegation zone.

“I’m honest, I have one face. If I say Kolo Muani, Gallagher, Palhinha, and all our players are great level, big level, it’s because I feel it,” Spurs boss De Zerbi said after the victory.

“I don’t want to sell something if I don’t believe in my words. I’m lucky because I’m working with very good players. Good people and very good players.

“My work and my job is just to transfer the confidence to believe in themselves and to try to be stronger than the defeats and the position in the table, stronger than the words of all of you.

“The crucial thing now is keeping in our heads what the situation was before the Wolverhampton game. This is the memory most important to keep in our heads.”

Rodrigo Bentancur was forced off during the game but De Zerbi played down fears of another injury to a key player.

“Yes, Bentancur is just tired,” he said when asked if he was okay.

Aston Villa need to bounce back quickly from their Europa League semi-final first-leg defeat if they hope to further cement themselves in the top five.

Spurs, meanwhile, are desperate for points in their battle to stay in the Premier League.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday evening’s clash.

Kick-off time

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Injuries and suspensions

Aston Villa: Boubacar Kamara (out), Alysson (out), Amadou Onana (out)

Tottenham Hotspur: Xavi Simons (out), Wilson Odobert (out), Mohammed Kudus (out), Dejan Kulusevski (out), Cristian Romero (out), Ben Davies (out), Guglielmo Vicario (out), Destiny Udogie (doubt), Dominic Solanke (out)

Predicted line-ups

Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; Bogarde, Tielemans; McGinn, Barkley, Rogers; Watkins

Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kolo Muani, Bergvall, Tel; Richarlison

Recent form

Aston Villa need to steady the ship if they hope to live up to their potential this season. Despite pulling off an important league win against Sunderland, they were then narrowly beaten by Fulham and then Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals. Level on points with Liverpool in 4th, a strong performance against Tottenham could see them make a case for a return to Europe’s top tournament.

Tottenham Hotspur finally managed to take home three points against an already-relegated Wolves side last time out, keeping them within touching distance of safety. Just two points behind West Ham, every game remains a must-win, but Spurs have not won at Villa Park since November 2024. Roberto de Zerbi will need to inspire something massive from his players as they continue to battle against relegation.

What’s been said?

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery: “Each match is very important, we are involved in the Premier League in day 35 and we are focusing on it as a priority – to be consistent and be demanding to achieve a huge challenge to be back in the Champions League.

“On Sunday we need the stadium full, the supporters helping us, playing with us, bringing the energy. We are trying to enjoy with our supporters. We have been consistent, three years in a row playing in Europe. This year we have the opportunity to fight for it.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Roberto De Zerbi: “[The voice inside us was saying] winning two or three games in a row is impossible because we hadn’t won a game in 2026. I think it’s all negative things and it’s rubbish. It’s like we’re all crying and relegated. No, not yet. We have to die on the pitch.

“We have to play, we have to fight, we have two points less than West Ham. It’s not the best moment for us, a tough moment, but the losers cry, they think negative and I don’t want people close to me crying or to think a different way than me.”

Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi has issued a positive update on Pape Sarr, saying he will be available for the league game against Aston Villa.

Tottenham have been without the Senegalese midfielder since De Zerbi’s first game in charge against Sunderland, which Spurs lost 1-0.

Sarr played almost half an hour from the bench, but had been dealing with a shoulder issue for a while and it has kept him out since.

Asked ahead of the Villa game if Sarr was fit, the Italian said: “Today was his first day with the group, but he worked very well. He’s available, yes. I have not decided yet if he will be in the starting 11.”

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Spurs have had a mixed start under De Zerbi, winning one, losing one and drawing one. But the 1-0 win against Wolves last week was the first Premier League victory for the club since December 28.

While the 46-year-old would no doubt be happy to get points on the table, he has felt he has needed to compromise his playing style: “Of course. The compromise is we can’t work too much, we can’t give them too much information, too many instructions, because at the beginning when you have too many instructions you lose the speed.

“But I think they are smart and they can understand early, quickly, and they need instructions, they need a fixed plan, a clear plan, a way to play.

“In the first half at Wolves I think we played well. Nott shooting too many times, not creating too many chances to score, not with the right speed, but in terms of order, occupation of the spaces, the line pass. Maybe some mistakes in the decision, because too many times we went outside and we have to change that habit. Sometimes we go outside, sometimes we keep the ball inside.”

Unai Emery has confirmed that Amadou Onana will be out of action against Tottenham Hotspur as the club work to understand the extent of his injury.

Aston Villa will host relegation threatened Tottenham Hotspur barely three days after defeat to Nottingham Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final.

Onana, who missed the league loss against Fulham before returning to the squad for the Forest clash, only managed 55 minutes before he was taken off the pitch with a calf issue.

Now the Villa boss has confirmed that while the club is still determining the severity of the injury, the Senegalese midfielder will definitely miss Sunday’s game.

“He has a scan and we will see the consequences after, and see how he’s feeling, but for Sunday, he’s definitely not available,” Emery said.

Dominic Solanke is set to miss Spurs’ game against Aston Villa on Sunday with the hamstring injury which forced him off against Wolves.

The striker suffered another injury setback in the win over the already relegated side last weekend in a fresh injury blow for boss Roberto De Zerbi.

De Zerbi also lost Xavi Simons to a serious knee injury in the victory.

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Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is also not ready to return as of yet, following hernia surgery, with Antonin Kinsky set to continue on goal.

But Destiny Udogie could feature again having been out with a hamstring injury.

James Maddison, meanwhile, is continuing to be assessed having returned to the bench of late but is yet to play since the knee injury he suffered last summer.

De Zerbi is confident he can play some part before the end of the season, however.

“I would like to play with him, because he’s a special player, he’s a different player, but we have to consider the physical condition, a lot of things,” De Zerbi said. “But I think he can be important in the next three games.”

Destiny Udogie will miss Spurs’ crucial clash with Wolves on Saturday, boss Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed.

The left-back has suffered a muscle problem but it is not expected to keep him sidelined for too long.

“Destiny has a problem,” De Zerbi said. “I think he can’t play tomorrow, but I’m sorry because he played a great first half, the second half as well, but the first one was great.

“But we have Spence, Souza is available to come with us, it’s not a big problem. I hope Destiny can be available in the next week in Villa Park.”

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James Maddison is still not ready to play, meanwhile, having returned to the bench for the first time this season against Brighton.

“No, he’s not available yet,” De Zerbi said. “Especially this week, he felt pain, but it’s not such an important problem.

“Tomorrow he’ll come with us on the match, because it’s important if he plays or not. It doesn’t matter. It’s better if he plays, for sure, but also as a guy, as a leader, as a positive guy.

“Inside my dressing room I want to see nice people and positive people, and it’s important also for his teammates.”

Pape Sarr will not be in the squad altogether, however, because of a shoulder issue.

“He felt pain in the shoulder and this week he didn’t work. He has not worked with the group. He’s not available to play.”

And goalkeeper Vicario remains sidelined after undergoing hernia surgery.

“Vicario is not available for tomorrow,” De Zerbi said. “I think and I hope he can start with me from Monday, next Monday.

“Antonin is playing very well and from Monday we go to work with him (Vicario). I hope Vicario can come back in the best physical condition because he’s another very important player for us.”

Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma are back available for Tottenham’s clash with Brighton on Saturday.

Bentancur has been out since January with a hamstring injury but boss Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed he is back in contention to feature.

“Bentancur is available to play,” he said.

“I don’t know if he’ll start the game or not. Bissouma is available but Vicario no. [Antonin] Kinsky played very well in Sunderland but Vicario is another important player for us, big experience, character and personality.”

But Spurs will be without captain Cristian Romero, who has been ruled out until the end of the season in another injury blow.

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“Romero, I’m really sorry for him and his injury,” De Zerbi said.

“First of all, non-stop, the people have to know he’s suffering because of this injury and because he can’t play anymore for us in this season. He’s a great captain for us and for Tottenham. We have to be positive, we have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball.”

James Maddison is also still not ready to return from the knee injury which has kept him out for the entirety of the campaign.

Guglielmo Vicario is still sidelined too after undergoing hernia surgery.

Tottenham’s torrid time with injuries has shown little signs of letting up as the end of the season approaches.

Spurs have once again endured a nightmare season with injury problems, having to be without several key players for extended periods.

While only one of a number of factors behind the club’s dismal campaign, which looks more and more as though it could end in relegation to the Championship, it has undoubtedly been a big reason behind their struggles.

Those problems have been added to by the news that Mohammed Kudus has suffered a setback in his recovery and looks set to miss the rest of the season, along with defender Cristian Romero who was forced off in tears with a knee injury in the loss to Sunderland.

We’ve had a look at the numbers which outline just how much injuries have impacted the club over the last two years…

According to Premier Injuries, only Brighton & Hove Albion’s injured players were out for more total days than Tottenham’s last season.

Spurs players were injured for a combined 1,553 days last season and missed a total of 193 games.

They suffered 41 injuries in which players were forced to miss games – the third most in the league behind Brighton and Ipswich.

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While they ended the season in 17th, there was little danger of relegation given the gap to the bottom three, and also won the Europa League. But there is no doubt injuries played a big part in their domestic struggles.

Many of those who contributed to that record were key players too. Micky van de Ven, Romero, Richarlison, Guglielmo Vicario and Dominic Solanke all missed prolonged periods.

Problems continued into this campaign

Former Spurs boss Thomas Frank, taking over from Ange Postecoglou last summer, identified the need to improve the availability of the players as a key area which would help the team to progress from the previous season’s disappointment.

Unfortunately for Frank, who was sacked in February, that proved not to be the case.

According to Transfermarkt, Spurs players have missed more than 200 league games this season combined, a number which will continue to rise given the already confirmed absences for the remainder of the campaign.

Two of Tottenham’s key creators, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, have missed the entirety of the campaign so far with serious knee injuries.

Dominic Solanke again missed considerable game time, being sidelined for half of the campaign, while others including Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Mohammed Kudus and Ben Davies have also been sidelined for prolonged periods.

There is also the element of players needing time to get up to speed again following their lengthy absences. Many, understandably, were not able to make an immediate impact on their returns.

There are clearly other issues at Spurs too, and even considering the injury crisis, there is a huge surprise at where they find themselves at this stage of the season. But it continues to be a major problem which is devastating the club.

To dare is to do. Walk along Tottenham High Road and those five words are impossible to ignore. But less than a year on from Europa League glory, on the pitch Tottenham have done far too little of that.

It begs the question, what exactly have Spurs been doing since Son Heung-min lifted that trophy in Bilbao last May? From a pure footballing perspective, the answer is, in short, not a whole lot. Off the pitch though, perhaps too much.

Ange Postecoglou was controversially dismissed only 16 days on from the Europa League triumph, with the club citing Tottenham’s woeful league campaign – in which they finished one place above the relegation zone – as the primary reason for his departure.

“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest change for the coming season and beyond,” a club statement read following the Australian’s dismissal.

Ten months on from this decision, Tottenham are out of the Champions League, failed to mount a run in either domestic cup, and sit in the relegation zone. The appointment of Thomas Frank, a tried and tested Premier League manager, was expected to bring some much needed stability to a ship that had been fighting to stay above water in the league last season.

The Dane departed the club in February with Spurs 16th in the Premier League table and five points above the relegation zone. His interim replacement, Igor Tudor – who has built a reputation for lifting clubs out of relegation trouble – lasted just 44 days at the helm, having failed to win a league game.

With the decision to appoint Frank and then Tudor, Tottenham attempted to play it safe. There was nothing daring about it. That cannot be said for the recent arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at Hotspur Way. If Igor Tudor was hired to be a firefighter, then De Zerbi arrives as the very antithesis of the word. And perhaps that is exactly what Tottenham need: a coach who can ignite a group of players that have largely failed to spark all season.

The Italian boasts two years of Premier League experience and, during his 20-month spell as Brighton head coach, transformed the team – guiding them to a club-record sixth place finish and their first ever European campaign.

Brighton, however, failed to win any of their first five games with De Zerbi in charge. And thus, with seven games remaining to avoid relegation, Spurs could hardly have taken a bigger gamble. Following the international break, the north London side’s run-in – and De Zerbi’s first test – begins this Sunday at the Stadium of Light against a Sunderland team daring to dream of European qualification.

The Black Cats boast an impressive record on Wearside, having lost only three times at home this campaign. Régis Le Bris’ side, who achieved promotion to the top-flight via the Championship playoffs last season, has unquestionably been the surprise package of the Premier League season.

While Sunderland’s fellow promoted sides are firmly anchored in the bottom quarter of the Premier League table, the Black Cats sit just three points shy of the European spots. For Spurs, Sunday’s showdown matters for all the wrong reasons; for Sunderland, it’s for all the right ones.

At the beginning of the season, it would have been reasonable to expect Spurs to occupy Sunderland’s position and Sunderland to be where Spurs now sit. The reality of relegation, however, is all too real for one club – and it’s not the newly promoted side many would have expected. It’s the established Premier League outfit, last relegated in 1977.

Spurs would do well to take note of Sunderland, whose decade-long journey back to the Premier League – after a freefall that saw them all the way to League One – offers a stark warning of the peril any newly relegated side can face, no matter its stature.

Tottenham and De Zerbi must get this one right, desperately needing to capitalise on the new-manager bounce that eluded them under Igor Tudor. But Sunderland at the Stadium of Light present a challenge that only Liverpool, Fulham and Brighton have managed to overcome this campaign.

Backed by a passionate Wearside crowd aspiring to trouble the continent next season, De Zerbi’s debut will be no easy task. With West Ham’s emphatic win over Wolves on Friday night, Tottenham head to the north east sitting in the relegation zone for the first time this season.

For Le Bris, three points would be another step toward a European dream; for Roberto De Zerbi, they would be a step away from a relegation nightmare.