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Tottenham have made attempts to get to the bottom of their injury problems
Sam Tabuteau, Sports Reporter
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Roberto De Zerbi insists he has full belief in Tottenham’s medical staff despite his side’s mounting injury woes.
Spurs could be without as many as 10 senior players for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, with Tosin Adarabioyo, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison all doubts despite playing in the 3-1 win over Coventry on Monday.
De Zerbi had also hoped to have Destiny Udogie back in contention after deciding not to risk him against Coventry.
The Italian full-back has, however, yet to return to training after picking up a knee injury against Manchester United two weeks ago and will not be available to face Chelsea.
Despite overhauling their performance department in the summer, adding Ali James (head of medical services), Tom Tombleson (head of athletic development) and Agostino Tibaudi (strength and conditioning coach) to De Zerbi’s backroom team, the club’s injury issues have persisted.
A disrupted pre-season, with commercial commitments, jet lag and players returning late from the World Cup, meant Spurs were physically ill-equipped heading into the start of the campaign.
De Zerbi has been vocal about his frustrations with Spurs’ pre-season preparations, but admitted it was not the fault of the club’s revamped medical team. Instead insisting that their current injury situation is normal.
“It’s football. I am convinced our medical staff this season is high level. I follow them. I believe in them. I have big confidence because I know how they are working, and I think they are good enough to believe in them. Nothing more. We are suffering a normal situation in football,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference.
Destiny Udogie has been ruled out of Tottenham’s clash against Chelsea
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Spurs have been cautious with Maddison, Kulusevski and Udogie, who have struggled with long-term or, in the case of Udogie, persistent injury issues.
Pedro Porro, though, has been a figure of consistency for Spurs in recent seasons, yet he has played just three league games and only recently returned to training after a month out with a hamstring injury.
On Porro’s injury, De Zerbi revealed that the Spain international first felt discomfort in his hamstring during the World Cup and was therefore eased back by Spurs’ medical team after returning late to pre-season.
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His subsequent injury against Villa came after Porro insisted he was able to play through the issue despite complaining of pain during training.
“Pedro played at the World Cup. He won the World Cup. He came after two or three weeks, maybe with the head or the body he didn’t recover enough to start this season without the pre-season. He already suffered in the World Cup the muscular problem of the hamstring,” De Zerbi continued.
“He felt it in the training session and played anyway against Aston Villa because he pushed to come back before the right time, and he suffered another injury. What is the responsibility of the medical staff?
Porro is fit to play against Chelsea, but De Zerbi is facing a selection dilemma in midfield, with Rodrigo Bentancur suspended and Lucas Bergvall out with a knee injury.
Bergvall picked up the injury in the first minute of Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Manchester United as he turned the ball over on the edge of the box to create a guilt-edged chance for Dominic Solanke.
Despite this, Bergvall played on and completed the game, only later complaining about the issue before missing Spurs’ warm-weather training camp in Marbella and the victory over Coventry.
“Bergvall, the first minute in Manchester United, when he regained the ball in the Man United build up when Solanke had the chance to score in the beginning of the game, in the tackle, he turned his knee and felt pain.
“He finished the game, and the day after he felt pain. What is the responsibility of the medical staff? Nothing.”
Lucas Bergvall was injured against Manchester United
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Spurs are in the midst of an injury crisis, but De Zerbi is reluctant to blame the club’s revamped medical team, fronted by performance director Dan Lewindon, and instead admitted the extended three-week international break has not helped his side.
“Robertson played four games in a row with the national team. Every three days he played and after that felt a small problem in Manchester and didn’t play, just because we take no risk with him.
“He played 60/65 minutes against Coventry very well, especially played very well in the first half and was fatigued. It’s normal fatigue for a player who played six games in 20 days.”
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The World Cup winner visited a specialist in Spain over the international break to aid his recovery, and De Zerbi said on Friday that the right-back is in contention for a return to the matchday squad.
Having decided not to risk Destiny Udogie against Coventry, De Zerbi has also confirmed his first-choice left-back remains unavailable for selection against Chelsea.
“With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him,” the Spurs boss said in the pre-match press conference. “But after Manchester United, I have not worked with him, and it is a problem.
Loanee Mykhailo Mudryk is expected back soon from an ankle injury, though he is ineligible anyway for Saturday’s game against parent club Chelsea.
De Zerbi, though, played down any fears that they had sustained significant blows and all three are expected to be fit and available, with Marmoush also pictured training at Hotspur Way on Thursday.
Lucas Bergvall (knee) and Savio (muscle) are still out, while long-term absentees Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are progressing but still some way from a return to match action.
There were plenty of positives after Spurs’ 3-1 victory over Coventry, with James Maddison starting his first competitive game since May 2025 and Dejan Kulusevski making his first appearance in nearly 18 months off the bench.
While both players came through the game unscathed, De Zerbi is unsure as to whether they can be involved against Chelsea.
Rodrigo Bentancur, meanwhile, will serve the second game of his three-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester United for headbutting Luke Shaw.
He visited a specialist in Spain over the international break to address the issue, but has missed Spurs’ last two games, including Monday’s 3-1 victory over Coventry.
De Zerbi has now, though, offered a mixed update on Spurs’ first-choice full backs, saying: “Pedro is back, [Udogie] is not available.
“With the medical staff, we are trying to find the best way for him. But after Manchester United, I have not worked with him, and it is a problem. We are lucky because in the same position we have solutions.”
Omar Marmoush and Andy Robertson are also fit and available despite appearing to struggle with injuries before being replaced in the second-half against Coventry.
At the time, De Zerbi said their issues were “nothing important” and he said the same ahead of Saturday’s visit to Stamford Bridge.
Dejan Kulusevski made his first competitive appearance in 526 days against Coventry, while James Maddison made his first competitive start since May 2025.
The pair have endured incredibly tough periods on the sidelines, but De Zerbi has confirmed both players are doubts to face Chelsea despite coming through the Coventry game unscathed.
De Zerbi said: "I don't know, because in the first three days Maddison didn't work with us, I don't know if he's ready for tomorrow. We can play also with Mathys Tel, we can play with Marmoush, we can play with Gallagher, or we have more solutions considering Pedro Porro can play.
"Like I said many times, I don't want to take risks, because if you analyse this period of European football, you can see many injuries, not [just] for Tottenham, for everyone. So if I can, I don't want to take risks to lose many players for many games.
"Kulusevski also (I don't know if he is ready for tomorrow). Kulusevski worked well, but on the first day (after Coventry) he stayed individual."
Spurs are looking for just their second league win of the season when they take on bitter rivals Chelsea in a fixture they have historically struggled to win.
Roberto De Zerbi says his players can use Tottenham’s abysmal record at Stamford Bridge as motivation as they look for their first away win against Chelsea in eight years.
This corner of west London has not been a happy hunting ground for Spurs managers over the years, as De Zerbi found out in May when his side lost their penultimate game of the season, despite Chelsea being without a permanent manager.
After a heavy summer of spending, though, De Zerbi is determined to prove that a new era is underway at Spurs, even if it took them until the seventh game of the season to record their first league win.
Victory over Coventry on Monday saw Spurs finally make good on the opportunities they created for themselves, but they travel to Stamford Bridge with little expectation of ending their hoodoo.
Hope has been in short supply at Spurs over the past couple of seasons, but De Zerbi is relentlessly positive and remains optimistic of changing the narrative against Chelsea.
Asked if his players were fearful ahead of Saturday’s trip to SW6, De Zerbi said of all the problems currently surrounding the club, with injuries mounting and just one league win to their name, their record against Chelsea was of little significance.
“No. I think no because I played just one game with Chelsea as Tottenham coach,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference.
“Anyway, it has to be one motivation more. Not one more problem for us. What is the problem? We didn’t play in the past for Tottenham and I was not the Tottenham coach in the last seasons. It is not a problem. We have already many problems and this is not a problem.”
De Zerbi says he has yet to speak to his players about Spurs’ derby day troubles, and insists that after overhauling their squad in the summer, this is an opportunity for new players to write their own history.
“For the players, I want this negative record, they give us more motivation, more mentality, more energy to win a game, to play a good game. Because we have the qualities enough to win a game, this game,” De Zerbi continued.
Spurs signed 10 new players in the summer transfer window, spending in excess of £300million to try to put last season’s relegation woes behind them.
It has yet to click into gear for them just yet, but they have performed better than their results suggest.
“Yes, it's a derby against one very good team, very good coach, they have a clear style of play, great players, but also Tottenham players are very good. The level of the players is high, we have to show together as a team, not as an individual.”
The 21-year-old became Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he replaced the injured Emi Martinez in the second half of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Everton.
Penders is now set for a run in the team as first-choice option Martinez recovers from jaw surgery, with the Argentine having received lengthy treatment and been rushed to hospital immediately following a sickening clash of heads at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Chelsea - who loaned out former No1 Robert Sanchez to Como in the summer after signing Martinez from Aston Villa - have full trust that Penders can be a capable understudy and their long-term No1 of the future.
Elsewhere in the team, Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League games by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1 with Jordan Henderson, 36, and Moises Caicedo as their midfield double pivot. The duo could again partner one another against Spurs at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers will be expected to start as Chelsea’s front three once more, while manager Xabi Alonso will likely be minded to keep Pedro Neto at right wing-back after he scored both goals against Everton.
At centre-back, Wesley Fofana has been benched for the last two matches and Alonso is known to be fond of Cobham academy product Josh Acheampong, so may well choose to start the Englishman again.
Alonso will conduct his pre-match press conference on Friday, when he will provide an update on the fitness and availability of his players.
Malo Gusto missed the Everton game due to illness, while Pep Chavarria travelled up to Merseyside and was due to start, only to be replaced in the lineup by Jorrel Hato because of a slight injury picked up in training. While Gusto has now recovered and is available, the game will come too soon for Chavarria.
Winger Jamie Gittens suffered an ankle injury on international duty with England’s Under-21s and will remain sidelined for the next few weeks, while striker Emmanuel Emegha recently suffered a setback in training and it remains to be seen exactly when he will be in a position to make his competitive debut for Chelsea - but it will not be against Spurs.
Roberto De Zerbi will hope to have vice-captain Pedro Porro available when Tottenham travel to face Chelsea this weekend.
The World Cup winner visited a specialist in Spain over the international break to aid his recovery, and De Zerbi said last Sunday that he was hopeful he would be available for selection against Chelsea.
“Pedro, I think he's coming. Maybe in Chelsea, he can play,” De Zerbi said at his pre-Coventry press conference.
Porro has since been pictured back in training in the build-up to the trip to Stamford Bridge.
Having decided not to risk Destiny Udogie against Coventry, De Zerbi will also be hoping to have his first-choice left-back available for selection against Chelsea.
Tottenham are mindful of overworking Udogie given his injury history, but he has had two weeks to recover from the knee issue he picked up against Manchester United and should be in contention.
Loanee Mykhailo Mudryk is expected back soon from an ankle injury, though he is ineligible anyway for Saturday’s game against parent club Chelsea.
De Zerbi, though, played down any fears that they had sustained significant blows and all three are expected to be fit and available, with Marmoush also pictured training at Hotspur Way on Thursday.
Lucas Bergvall (knee) and Savio (muscle) are still out, while long-term absentees Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are progressing but still some way from a return to match action.
There were plenty of positives after Spurs’ 3-1 victory over Coventry, with James Maddison starting his first competitive game since May 2025 and Dejan Kulusevski making his first appearance in nearly 18 months off the bench.
Both are expected to be included in the matchday squad against Chelsea.
Rodrigo Bentancur, meanwhile, will serve the second game of his three-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester United for headbutting Luke Shaw.
The 21-year-old became Chelsea’s youngest-ever Premier League goalkeeper when he replaced the injured Emi Martinez in the second half of last weekend’s 2-0 win at Everton.
Penders is now set for a run in the team as first-choice option Martinez recovers from jaw surgery, with the Argentine having received lengthy treatment and been rushed to hospital immediately following a sickening clash of heads at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Chelsea - who loaned out former No1 Robert Sanchez to Como in the summer after signing Martinez from Aston Villa - have full trust that Penders can be a capable understudy and their long-term No1 of the future.
Elsewhere in the team, Chelsea have won back-to-back Premier League games by an aggregate scoreline of 7-1 with Jordan Henderson, 36, and Moises Caicedo as their midfield double pivot. The duo could again partner one another against Spurs at Stamford Bridge.
Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and £117million summer signing Morgan Rogers will be expected to start as Chelsea’s front three once more, while manager Xabi Alonso will likely be minded to keep Pedro Neto at right wing-back after he scored both goals against Everton.
At centre-back, Wesley Fofana has been benched for the last two matches and Alonso is known to be fond of Cobham academy product Josh Acheampong, so may well choose to start the Englishman again.
Alonso will conduct his pre-match press conference on Friday, when he will provide an update on the fitness and availability of his players.
Malo Gusto missed the Everton game due to illness, while Pep Chavarria travelled up to Merseyside and was due to start, only to be replaced in the lineup by Jorrel Hato because of a slight injury picked up in training.
Winger Jamie Gittens suffered an ankle injury on international duty with England’s Under-21s and will remain sidelined for the next few weeks, while striker Emmanuel Emegha recently suffered a setback in training and it remains to be seen exactly when he will be in a position to make his competitive debut for Chelsea.
Spurs injuries stacking up ahead of Chelsea
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Tottenham Edition
Your weekly briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau
I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.
Tottenham suffered up four new injury worries after their win over Coventry on Monday.
Three stars were forced off with respective niggles in north London, while Roberto De Zerbi’s left-back crisis deepened after Destiny Udogie was excluded from the matchday squad.
James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski returned in more positive updates, with the latter making a first appearance in a year and a half after a kneecap problem.
But with a mammoth London derby against Chelsea looming this weekend, De Zerbi will be sweating over the fitness of some key members of his squad.
Here is all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...
Omar Marmoush
Marmoush was on target for Spurs on Monday, but he later pulled up and needed replacing.
He went down holding his calf and received treatment before being taken off and replaced by Mathys Tel.
De Zerbi, though, was quick to play down his issue at full time.
“No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important,” the Italian said.
The Egyptian striker should be in contention to face Chelsea and could take the place of the misfiring Dominic Solanke.
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Hobbled off: Omar Marmoush
AFP/Getty
Destiny Udogie
Left-back Udogie was a surprise exclusion when De Zerbi named his squad to face Coventry.
Speaking ahead of kick-off, the Spurs boss told Sky Sports that he had suffered a knee knock against Manchester United.
He said: "Destiny Udogie played 70 minutes and he suffered a problem in his knee and we didn't take a risk."
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Pedro Porro
Full-back Porro is close to a comeback after suffering a hamstring injury ahead of the international break.
He picked up the injury early on in the 3-2 loss against Aston Villa, and was set to miss a month.
Last week, De Zerbi said of the Spaniard: “Pedro - I think - is not [out] for many games.”
The defender himself took to social media last week to reveal that he was nearly ready for a return, with a post captioned “almost back.”
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Nearly: Pedro Porro
Getty
Savio
Summer arrival Savio sustained an injury after the draw at United.
De Zerbi said of the Brazilian: “Unfortunately, Savio, on Tuesday before leaving for Marbella, felt a muscular problem and we have lost him for some weeks.”
It remains unclear as to when the winger will return or quite what his issue is, but it remains to be seen whether he will be back before the next international break.
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Potential return date: November 7 vs Leeds (A)
Andy Robertson
After starting against Coventry, left-back Robertson pulled up with a problem in the second period.
He played through it for about five minutes as he waited for a break in play, but ultimately went down and was forced off.
Speaking afterwards, though, De Zerbi seemed confident he had not suffered a serious injury.
He said: “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.”
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Worry: Andy Robertson
Getty
Tosin Adarabioyo
Spurs’ worries were doubled when Tosin Adarabioyo, making his first league start, went down at the exact same time as Robertson on Monday.
He appeared to have sustained a calf issue and was upset as he was taken off.
But, as with Robertson, De Zerbi seemed confident he had not suffered a serious injury.
He said: “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.”
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Lucas Bergvall
Bergvall was another to suffer a knock at Old Trafford, with De Zerbi confirming he picked up an injury in attempting to set up a chance for Dominic Solanke.
Fortunately, though, he will not be away for long, with De Zerbi saying: “Bergvall had a problem in Manchester early on in the first chance he created for Solanke.
“He felt pain in his knee but felt fine and on Sunday he came to the training ground and he'll be out for two weeks.”
Potential return date: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)
Sidelined: Mykhailo Mudryk
PA
Mykhailo Mudryk
Loan arrival Mudryk played just one game for his new side before suffering a long-term ankle issue.
De Zerbi has branded that injury “stupid,” and it has been reported it was expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Updates on his condition have been few and far between since then, but that initial prognosis could see him return to contention on Halloween.
Potential return date: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)
Xavi Simons
Simons was struck down with an ACL injury when Tottenham visited Wolves in April.
He immediately underwent surgery and missed the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, but is pushing through his recovery at Hotspur Way.
He shared a video to his social media this week training with a ball at his feet, suggesting he is making positive progress.
Potential return date: January
Wilson Odobert
Potential return date: November
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