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Sweden boss Graham Potter has now provided an update on the fitness of two Tottenham stars, Dejan Kulusevski and Lucas Bergvall.

Tottenham Hotspur are in desperate need for their injured players to return to full fitness, as the first team squad is currently stretched beyond belief.

New boss Igor Tudor could be handed a few boosts on the fitness front if Richarlison and Pedro Porro return to action ahead of the north London derby.

However, the return dates of two other Tottenham stars, Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski, remain unclear, with a fresh report earlier in the week stating that Kulusevski is set to be out for longer than expected.

Sweden boss Graham Potter has now provided an update on the injury situations of the two Spurs men ahead of Sweden’s World Cup play-off games in March.

Speaking about the availability of Kulusevski and Alexander Isak for the World Cup play-off, Potter addressed their recovery timelines in comments to Sportbladet.

He said, “It’s hard to say, there’s still time for them. They’re doing their rehabilitation well in the clubs. There’s still time.

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“I hope so, but they have two big injuries. It will be tough to come back in March. They have good rehab staff behind them so there’s a chance.”

Kulusevski and Isak, for their part, are understood to be pushing to be available for Sweden’s key fixtures in March.

Potter explained that both players remain determined to return in time, adding, “I have spoken to both of them. They are optimistic and are working very, very hard at their clubs to be able to play with us in March.”

Further concern over Lucas Bergvall’s return timeline

Bergvall, on the other hand, has featured for Tottenham this season and has played 26 games so far. The 20-year-old midfielder, however, suffered an ankle injury in January and has been out of action since then.

Potter also has concerns over Bergvall’s availability for the clash against Ukraine.

Addressing his situation alongside Johansson’s, he said: “It’s a bit the same as for Alex and Dejan. There’s still some time left before the match against Ukraine, and it will be tough for them, but we’re hoping for them too.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s temporary appointment of Igor Tudor will see instant changes within the team and some players will benefit from them more than others.

Let’s take a look at the winners and losers who will be most affected by the Croatian’s mid-season arrival, starting with the five winners…

Randal Kolo Muani could find his goalscoring boots at Tottenham

Randal Kolo Muani has been a disappointing loan signing for Tottenham Hotspur. Registering three goals and two assists in the Champions League is actually a good tally, but it does not compensate for 18 Premier League appearances without a goal contribution.

However, the striker scored three goals in Serie A last season while Tudor was in charge of Juventus. He also bagged twice against Al-Ain in the Club World Cup and assisted against Wydad Casablanca.

Playing under a manager who knows him well could be what Muani needs in order to rediscover his form and replicate what he did in Italy for Spurs.

Souza and Pedro Porro could play as wing-backs under Igor Tudor

Destiny Udogie is injured yet again and so Souza could get a good number of minutes under Tudor. Better still, he will be able to function in a more attacking role because the new boss likes to use wing-backs on either side of his back three.

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This is also good news for Pedro Porro, whose defensive positioning is a regular point of criticism.

The Spaniard will have more freedom to play further up the pitch, allowing him to put more balls in the box and ask questions of the opposition defence.

Conor Gallagher and Pape Matar Sarr will start in Tottenham midfield

Tudor likes his midfielders to bring the energy and press high up the pitch, and this will certainly place Pape Matar Sarr in a good position.

The 23-year-old is usually one of Tottenham’s brightest players, who covers large areas of the pitch and never gives up.

Similarly, Conor Gallagher is a hard-working player in the middle of the pitch, and he possesses the attributes required to slot nicely into Tudor’s system.

But what about the three losers of Igor Tudor’s Tottenham appointment?

Dominic Solanke will have to continue proving his worth

Spurs have undoubtedly looked better in attack since Dominic Solanke returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

However, Tudor may prefer to go with a striker who is already familiar to him, putting the Englishman at a disadvantage in comparison with Muani.

It would be a very poor decision to drop Solanke from the starting lineup, but Tudor will want to do things his way and he may not be aware of just how useful the 28-year-old can be.

Mathys Tel will be left warming the Spurs bench

What a torrid time Mathys Tel has had since he made the move from Bayern Munich to Tottenham. The 20-year-old was not given the chance to play any part in the Europa League final and his starts on the whole have been quite limited.

Despite this, it seemed like Tel was beginning to find his place in the team under Thomas Frank, taking up a position out wide.

However, this is unlikely to be an option for the France under-21s international going forward, as Tudor rarely plays with traditional wingers. This is a huge blow for Tel because he is highly unlikely to be getting games as a centre forward.

Cristian Romero is unavailable for Tudor’s opening matches

You can admire Cristian Romero as a player and also be frustrated by his rashness and ill discipline on the pitch.

Such behaviour has seen the defender handed yet another suspension, and this means he will miss Tudor’s first three fixtures in charge.

It seems unlikely the outspoken Argentine will be stripped of his captaincy, but who knows? Tudor will want to quickly establish leaders in his squad, and the fact that Romero is not available to him already suggests he might not be reliable.

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to rival Tottenham Hotspur for one of the Premier League’s most highly rated young midfielders, with the summer window already beginning to take shape behind the scenes.

There has been a lot of promise from the Tottenham higher-ups that ambition will be shown in the summer transfer window, following a rather subpar winter of transfer activity.

The midfield area of Spurs could well be an area that needs extra depth, with Yves Bissouma’s contract set to expire in the summer and Palhinha only on loan from Bayern Munich.

There have been talks about Adam Wharton being a player Spurs are a fan of, but fresh reports have now linked them with yet another young Premier League midfielder.

Tottenham and Chelsea battle for Carlos Baleba transfer

This report comes from Fichajes, who claim that Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba has been linked with a move away from the Seagulls.

It is understood that Tottenham Hotspur are keen on the 22-year-old defensive midfielder, who has featured 21 times already this season.

But Spurs are not the only Premier League side keen, with Chelsea and Newcastle United also showing interest in the Brighton man.

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£100m price tag set to test Tottenham’s ambition

It is also claimed that if any of these sides are to land Baleba in the summer window, they will have to break the bank.

A transfer fee of £100 million is expected to be demanded for the 22-year-old, as Brighton does not plan to lose the midfielder easily.

Tottenham have never coughed up such a huge amount on a single player in their history, and it will be interesting to see if any such move will be made by the north London club in the summer.

Tottenham Hotspur have now found out Real Madrid’s stance on a potential summer move for Endrick, who is on loan at Lyon.

An injury crisis has hit the forward line of the Tottenham Hotspur attack, with no out-and-out winger fit at the moment.

New boss Igor Tudor will now have to find a way to make it work regardless, and that should be no problem, as his formation of choice, 3-4-2-1, is a narrow one, requiring no wingers.

Still, securing an extra body in front will go a long way in easing some of the burden in the forward line for Tottenham, and now they have found out if one of their past targets will be allowed to move away this summer.

Tottenham learn Real Madrid stance on Endrick transfer

Spurs were in the race for Endrick before the winter window opened, and were given a few conditions they had to meet before they could sign him.

The Madrid star, however, opted for a move to France with Lyon, where he has since found form, scoring five goals and providing one assist in six appearances.

The forward’s form has once again caught the attention of a few Premier League sides, including Tottenham, who are said to have made fresh contact with Real Madrid regarding a move for the forward this summer.

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According to TeamTalk, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal have now been told in no uncertain terms that Endrick will not be available this summer.

Instead, Madrid has instructed the Brazilian striker’s camp that he will return to the Santiago Bernabeu as part of their first-team squad next season.

Tottenham must explore alternatives in attack

Endrick will no doubt be a great addition to any side’s forward line, given his versatility in attack. The 19-year-old is capable of playing as a centre-forward, a right winger, a left winger and in behind the main striker.

Such versatility will no doubt come in handy for Spurs, given how often players on the team pick up injuries.

However, with Madrid now effectively closing the door on an Endrick exit, Tottenham will now have to consider other options if they are to strengthen their attack.

An English coach has emerged as an option for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer on the back of his recent exploits in the Premier League.

Igor Tudor has been appointed as Tottenham’s interim coach until the summer, with the Croat being tasked with getting the Lilywhites out of relegation trouble.

The 47-year-old’s arrival has given the club some time to assess their options for the permanent role ahead of the summer.

It has been widely reported over the past few days that Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi are among Spurs’ leading contenders to take over in the summer, but it has now been claimed that another manager has also caught their eye.

Tottenham have been impressed by Michael Carrick’s work at Man United

Michael Carrick has transformed Man United since replacing Ruben Amorim last month, with the United hierarchy ‘thrilled’ by his impact, according to TEAMtalk.

However, the report claims that they are not the only ones to be impressed, with Tottenham Hotspur also liking what the 44-year-old has done at Old Trafford.

The report says that Spurs have been following Carrick closely for a while and were considering him last summer before appointing Thomas Frank.

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The former Middlesbrough boss’s swift adaptation to the Premier League has ‘kept him firmly on Tottenham’s radar’, and he remains one of the names ‘under serious consideration’ at the North London club.

Are Man United likely to appoint Carrick permanently?

However, Tottenham would only be able to make a move for Carrick if United decide against making him their permanent head coach.

TEAMtalk say that the Red Devils’ director of football, Jason Wilcox, is continuing to conduct due diligence on all options ahead of the final decision.

Wilcox and his staff ‘always knew that Carrick had the potential to force his way into the reckoning’ and privately, they are delighted that he has done just that.

One insider told the outlet that United are loving his “style, demeanour and attitude”, with their admiration for the former Spurs midfielder growing with each week.

The Englishman has allegedly ‘pushed himself far deeper into the conversation for the permanent job’ than anyone at the Manchester club initially expected.

Tottenham Hotspur fans may be concerned by what some of Igor Tudor’s former colleagues have allegedly said about the Croat.

Tudor has plenty of experience firefighting at clubs, having done so most recently at Juventus, with him who parted ways in October of last year.

The new interim Spurs head coach has said that he wants to energise the squad and improve results on the back of what has been a chastening last few months for everyone involved at the North London club.

However, a new report has taken a closer look at the newcomer’s personality, which suggests that it may not be all smooth sailing for Spurs until the summer.

Why Igor Tudor’s appointment by Tottenham has surprised many

The Telegraph have revealed that individuals familiar with Tudor’s work have been surprised by the fact that he has been put in charge of a club in the midst of a Premier League relegation battle.

That is not only due to his lack of experience in England, but also because things have not ended well for him in his last three jobs at Marseille, Lazio and Juventus, having not lasted more than a year at any of those clubs.

One former colleague of Tudor has described him as “too loud and emotional”, with the Croat said to be prone to tantrums.

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One source said about the former Juventus boss: “Look at the amount of games at each club. That tells you everything.”

Another source familiar with his work at Marseille said about Tudor’s tactics: “He’s purely a transitional coach. His Marseille team was like watching basketball. Spurs have rolled the dice.”

Tudor has a history of clashes in his previous jobs

The Telegraph says that another possible point of concern for the North London club is Tudor’s history of clashing with those around him.

In his last job at Juve, the 47-year-old is said to have had a heated confrontation with the club’s general manager, Damien Comolli, just days prior to his sacking.

He also allegedly lost his temper with the Bianconeri players, accusing them of having “no dignity”, while he also had a series of clashes with players at Marseille.

It is revealed that the Juve hierarchy was unimpressed with Tudor’s public statements and his tendency to regularly complain about refereeing decisions.

Tottenham Hotspur are extremely short of options out wide after losing key wingers to injuries, but Igor Tudor may already have a solution.

Tudor has been confirmed as Spurs’ interim head coach until the summer, and he now has a huge responsibility on his shoulders.

He is taking over a team languishing just five points off the relegation zone and has to ensure that Tottenham do not get relegated from the Premier League for the first time in their history.

What makes his job even harder is the fact that Spurs have double-digit injury absentees at the moment, which seriously limits his options over the weeks ahead.

Why Tottenham’s lack of fit wingers may not be a problem for Igor Tudor

The position where Spurs are most affected is out wide, with several of their wingers currently out with long-term injuries.

Wilson Odobert could now miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury, and he joins Lucas Bergvall (who has been used out wide by Thomas Frank), Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison, and Dejan Kulusevski on the treatment table.

However, this may not be a major issue for Tudor, who has preferred deploying a 3-4-2-1 system in the past.

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The Croat’s system tends to rely on wing-backs to provide the width, which may suit Tottenham for the moment, given their shortage of options out wide.

Do Spurs have sufficiently good wing-backs?

Pedro Porro could return for the North London derby, and the Spaniard will fit naturally into the wing-back role, which is the position where he made a name for himself at Sporting Lisbon.

Destiny Udogie also has the qualities to thrive as a wing-back, but the Tottenham left-back is expected to be out of action for another month.

Tudor may thus rely on Djed Spence as a left wing-back, which may not be ideal, while new signing Souza may get more opportunities over the coming months than he expected when he arrived at Spurs.

Fabrizio Romano has revealed what Tottenham Hotspur have told Igor Tudor about his chances of being appointed as the permanent head coach of the club.

Tudor has taken charge of Spurs until the end of the season following Thomas Frank’s sacking.

The Croat coach’s contract with Tottenham only runs until the summer, with no option to extend his contract further, and his remit is simple: to guide the club to safety and to energise the squad.

It has now been revealed what the Lilywhites have told the incoming interim coach about the possibility of him remaining at the club beyond June.

Tottenham have told Igor Tudor they want a new manager in the summer

It was claimed by Alasdair Gold on Friday that the new interim head coach would be given a chance to stake his claim to be the permanent Tottenham manager.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, that may not be the case, with Spurs being clear to Tudor what their plans are for the summer.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Tottenham made it clear to the former Juventus boss that they want a new manager in the summer, ‘unless something completely crazy happens’ over the next few months.

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Tottenham want Mauricio Pochettino back

In the same video, Romano confirmed that Tottenham had settled on Mauricio Pochettino and Roberto De Zerbi as their top two targets.

The same information has also been carried by GiveMeSport, who added that De Zerbi wants to wait until the summer, as other top Premier League jobs could open up.

Meanwhile, it has also emerged that Tottenham have made multiple contacts with Pochettino regarding a return since the start of the calendar year.

Tottenham Hotspur are now working around the clock to seal a deal after settling on their top target to replace Thomas Frank permanently.

Igor Tudor will take charge of Spurs until the end of the season, with the former Juventus boss being no stranger to taking over clubs in crisis mid-season.

Tudor has admitted that his main focus is to energise the Spurs squad, which he insists is not lacking in quality.

Having now got an interim through the door, the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy have already started working on bringing a familiar face to the club in the summer.

Tottenham working around the clock to agree deal with Mauricio Pochettino

It has now been reported by GiveMeSport that Mauricio Pochettino’s name has emerged as the ‘clear favourite’ to take over the reins permanently in the summer.

The Argentine’s contract with the USA runs out after the World Cup, and he has emerged as the ‘great saviour’ for Spurs and is the ‘consensus candidate’ as the club looks to restore their lost identity.

Tottenham realise that they need a leader who understands the club’s unique character and can inject optimism into the squad, and they see the return of their ‘prodigal son’ as the only viable solution.

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The Spurs board is working around the clock to finalise an agreement with Pochettino and provide the team with a winning structure.

Pochettino has made his feelings clear on Spurs’ potential

Since leaving the club in 2019, Pochettino has repeatedly made it clear that Tottenham hold a special place in his heart.

Reports indicate that the former Spurs manager would jump at the chance to return to N17, and he has recently made it clear what he thinks Tottenham’s ambition should be.

One Tottenham first-team star who has had a poor campaign so far may be the biggest winner from Igor Tudor’s arrival in N17.

Spurs acted swiftly to replace Thomas Frank, with Tudor taking charge as the interim head coach until the summer.

With the Croat only being handed a short-term contract, he may have to perform incredibly well to be considered for the permanent role in the summer.

However, the 47-year-old has plenty of experience in rebuilding clubs in crisis, and he knows one member of the Spurs squad very well.

Igor Tudor could get Randal Kolo Muani firing for Tottenham

Randal Kolo Muani has struggled since joining Tottenham on loan in the summer, and is still waiting for his first Premier League goal.

The Frenchman may be very happy with the arrival of Tudor, with whom he worked during his loan spell at Juventus last season.

The 27-year-old started all of Juve’s final six matches last season after Tudor took over at the Allianz Arena, managing to score three times.

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Kolo Muani had gone eight Serie A games without a goal prior to the Croat’s arrival, which perhaps shows that the new interim Tottenham head coach knows how to get the best of the man on loan from PSG.

Under Tudor, Kolo Muani looked much more like the player Paris Saint-Germain paid £76m to sign.

Alternatively, this could be bad news for Dominic Solanke, who has just started to rekindle some form at Tottenham following a long spell on the sidelines.

Tudor reveals what he intends to do at Spurs

Johan Lange has said that Tudor’s experience of producing an impact instantly at clubs made him the right fit for Tottenham, but it is fair to say that many Spurs fans are sceptical about the appointment.

In his first interview as interim Tottenham boss, the experienced coach made it clear what his primary objective is.