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Alasdair Gold has provided an update on Dejan Kulusevski’s rehabilitation and when Rodrigo Bentancur is expected to return for Tottenham.

Tottenham’s injury crisis has eased off a bit as they embark on the final stretch of the season.

However, Spurs have learned that they will be without Guglielmo Vicario for a month, with the Italian goalkeeper set to have a minor surgery on his hernia next week following Sunday’s clash against Nottingham Forest.

Things are also not looking rosy for a midfielder, who has been sidelined with an injury since May of last year.

Kulusevski has not kicked a ball yet this season, and it appears that the 25-year-old may not be as close to returning as it may have appeared.

A couple of days ago, Sweden boss Graham Potter revealed that the Tottenham man is not progressing as quickly as they had hoped.

Gold has now explained that it is a case of waiting until Kulusevski does not feel any pain in his knees, which makes it hard to put a timeline on the former Juventus star’s return.

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The journalist on his YouTube channel: “The moment Kulusevski doesn’t feel pain in his knee is the moment that everything can start moving forward. And I’m guessing they will be so reluctant to push him to cause any further issues in what was such a complicated injury.

“It’s not like any of the other injuries that you can kind of easily put a prognosis on a return date and everything that we normally see in football. It is so different, and yeah, unfortunately, it’s just one of those where we’ll see when he comes back, and there’s no kind of way we can really estimate it. It’s just going to be a sudden thing.”

Gold reveals when Rodrigo Bentancur will return for Spurs

Speaking on Friday, Igor Tudor revealed that Rodrigo Bentancur is one of several Spurs players who are edging close to a return.

Gold has now revealed that Uruguayan has begun working on football-specific moments and predicted that we will see him lining up for Spurs towards the end of April.

He said about the 28-year-old: “He’s already returned to field-based work and they’re reintroducing football-specific movements. under the current timeline he should technically be ready by the end of March, but not returning to competitive matches. That’s more realistically towards the end of April. I think we were always told April, so that kind of makes sense.”

Paul Merson has revealed whether or not he expects Tottenham Hotspur to build on their improved form with a victory over Nottingham Forest this weekend.

The atmosphere around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was as toxic as it could possibly be a couple of weeks ago, as Spurs slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Crystal Palace.

However, things have changed very quickly, beginning when Igor Tudor’s team kept fighting to the very end at Anfield, which resulted in the collection of a much needed point.

This was followed by an even more impressive performance, as Tottenham defeated Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Still, Nottingham Forest have looked stronger recently as well, meaning Sunday’s clash should be a fascinating contest.

Paul Merson predicts a Tottenham victory vs Nottingham Forest

Arsenal legend Paul Merson never misses an opportunity to aim a dig at Spurs, but it seems he has been impressed by their past couple of displays.

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Merson has been particularly impressed by Xavi Simons and Archie Gray, who were the two standout players during Tottenham’s midweek triumph.

He told Sportskeeda: “Tottenham were decent against Liverpool and played well in the second leg at home to Atletico. Spurs controlled that game well and were not cut open at the back like in the past.

“Xavi Simons worked hard and did well in the last game. Archie Gray was excellent too. Tottenham need these players to carry that form into this weekend because this is such a huge game coming up.”

Turning his attention to Tottenham’s next opponent, Merson continued: “Nottingham Forest are playing in the Europa League tonight. That tie against Midtjylland is at 0-0. I expect Forest to play their best team in that game and it’s also away from home.

“Tottenham fans will want to see fight from their team in this game. The fans will stick with the team, if they can give 100 per cent on the pitch. I remember it happened with Everton last season. The fans supported them and helped massively in the relegation battle.

“If this game was two or three games ago, I would have fancied Forest to win,” he added, “but having witnessed Spurs turn it around in the last couple of games, I have to back them. If Forest score first, it’s a different game. But I don’t think that will happen.”

Merson’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Nottingham Forest

Spurs rarely keep clean sheets

It is interesting that Merson thinks Tottenham will not concede at the weekend, because even against Liverpool and Atleti there have been some defensive issues.

Spurs have gone nine consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet and their most recent one in the Premier League happened on the first day of the year.

Perhaps Merson’s prediction will come and Tottenham will remain strong at the back all game. However, history suggests Forest are likely to land on the scoresheet.

Despite this, the North London club are looking increasingly better in attack and a clean sheet might not be required to wrap up three points anyway.

Tottenham Hotspur host Nottingham Forest in a huge relegation six-pointer, with both sides desperate for breathing space.

Tottenham head into this one with a bit more belief than they had a couple of weeks ago. A hard-fought 1-1 draw at Anfield, where they were arguably the better side for large spells, gave Igor Tudor’s men something to build on heading into a crucial run of fixtures.

That result was followed by a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. It was Tudor’s first win in charge, but the damage had already been done in the first leg, where Spurs were beaten 5-2. Despite the elimination, the performance itself offered real positives and should give the squad confidence going into this game.

Nottingham Forest, meanwhile, come into this off the back of a morale-boosting European result of their own. They overturned a first-leg deficit against FC Midtjylland before holding their nerve to win on penalties in Denmark.

League form remains a concern, with no wins since January, but recent performances suggest they are still very much in the fight. They come into this fixture on the back of draws against Manchester City and Fulham.

What time does Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest kick off?

Tottenham vs Nottingham Forest: Head-to-head record

The last time these two sides met was in December, and it was Nottingham Forest who came out on top. Under Sean Dyche, they secured a comfortable 3-0 win against a Tottenham side then managed by Thomas Frank.

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That result made it three consecutive victories for Forest in this fixture, despite Spurs having won the previous six meetings before that run.

Tottenham team news

Igor Tudor confirmed that Dominic Solanke is fit again after missing the Champions League second leg due to a hip problem.

Joao Palhinha has returned to training following concussion protocols, although his involvement here remains uncertain. Mohammed Kudus is expected to return after the international break.

Tudor also stated that he is confident James Maddison will feature again before the end of the season, while Rodrigo Bentancur is edging closer to a comeback.

There is, however, an impending absence, with Guglielmo Vicario set to undergo hernia surgery after this match, which will keep him out for at least a month.

Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert remain unavailable.

Nottingham Forest team news

Nottingham Forest will be without John Victor, Jair Cunha, Willy Boly, Nicola Savona and Chris Wood for this trip to North London.

Predicted lineups

TOTTENHAM: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Tel, Gray, Sarr, Simons; Kolo Muani, Richarlison

NOTTINGHAM FOREST: Ortega; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams; Sangare, Gibbs-White, Anderson; Hudson-Odoi, Jesus, Hutchinson

Our prediction

This is as important as it gets for both sides at this stage of the season. With very little separating them from the relegation zone, even a single result here could shift momentum significantly.

For Tottenham, Archie Gray continues to stand out. The 20-year-old has been excellent in recent weeks, and his all-round display against Atletico Madrid highlighted just how complete his game already is. In Tudor’s 4-4-2 system, his ability to progress the ball and win duels will be key.

For Forest, Morgan Gibbs-White remains their main threat. He has been central to everything they do going forward, and Tottenham will need to be disciplined defensively to stop him finding space between the lines.

With confidence slowly building and more players returning, this looks like a good opportunity for Spurs to take control of a game they simply cannot afford to lose.

Chris Sutton has named the thing Tottenham Hotspur must avoid above all else, as he predicts the Nottingham Forest score.

Tottenham Hotspur will resume their Premier League campaign on Sunday, after what has been an encouraging week.

Spurs kicked it off by sealing a late draw against Liverpool and on Wednesday they defeated Atletico Madrid 3-2, once again scoring near the end of the game.

However, Igor Tudor’s team are by no means safe from relegation and another hardworking display is needed to steer clear of the drop zone.

Chris Sutton expects Tottenham to narrowly beat Nottingham Forest

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton has made his weekly predictions and he has stated the importance of Spurs building on their current momentum.

The pundit is expecting Tottenham to scrape another win, but he has warned them not to make any silly mistakes, such as Micky van de Ven’s red card against Crystal Palace.

Sutton told BBC Sport: “People have been panning Tottenham boss Igor Tudor but they will look upon him in a different light if his side win this game.

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“Maybe he just needs to identify the opposition’s threat a little bit better than he does opposing managers – that clip of him mistaking someone else for Arne Slot at Anfield last week did make me chuckle.

“Nottingham Forest’s issue is that they don’t score enough goals, and that lack of attacking threat might just cost them here,” he continued.

“I know I keep mentioning it, but Forest manager Vitor Pereira has still not won a Premier League game all season, after 12 attempts with Wolves and Forest.

“I don’t think he will win this week, either, although this is going to be an extremely tight game.

“Spurs’ first aim will be to avoid any calamities like their red card against Crystal Palace in their previous home league game.

“They have a few injuries, but they still have a fair bit of quality in their team.”

Sutton added: “Tottenham also have a bit of positivity and momentum after Wednesday’s home win over Atletico Madrid, even though it wasn’t enough to turn around their Champions League tie. Now they need to build on that.”

Sutton’s prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Nottingham Forest

Igor Tudor has not won a Premier League match either

Tudor may have managed fewer games than the winless Pereira, but he too is yet to talk away from a Premier League fixture with three points.

This adds another layer to the tie, as both managers may be feeling like this is their time to break the pattern.

For Tudor, there will arguably be more belief because of Tottenham’s past two games against a strong opposition.

Although on the other hand, Nottingham Forest just knocked out the third best-performing team in the Europa League opening phase and they recently drew with Man City and Fulham.

Whichever way this one goes, it should be some match, but hopefully Sutton ends up being correct in his predictions.

Tottenham could soon welcome back several key players, with Igor Tudor’s latest update offering a glimpse of how strong Spurs might look before the season ends. We have now put together the dream XI Spurs will be able to field come the end of the season.

It now seems to be coming together for Tottenham Hotspur on the injury front at the business end of the season.

Ahead of the clash with Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Dominic Solanke was not spotted in training, but Tudor has since confirmed that Solanke could still feature at the weekend.

Joao Palhinha, who has been nursing a concussion, has also returned to training and is firmly in contention for the weekend’s encounter.

Tudor also provided further updates on several other injured stars, including James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur.

The Tottenham boss revealed that Maddison, who had been tipped to miss the rest of the season, is making progress in his recovery from the ACL injury he picked up in pre-season and could yet feature before the campaign ends.

Kudus is expected to return in the next ten days, which should see him back after the international break and in contention for the clash against Sunderland.

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Bentancur is also out and has been tipped to return in May, with Tudor confirming that the midfielder is making progress.

These are significant updates for Spurs ahead of the run-in and should provide a boost as they push to avoid relegation.

Tottenham: dream XI could emerge as key players return

With these players edging closer to a return, Tottenham will soon be able to field a squad filled with quality, not just in the starting XI but also with added depth on the bench.

In recent weeks, Spurs have gone from missing 13 players to having just seven sidelined, a number that could drop further before the season ends. When everyone returns, this is the dream XI we expect to see fielded.

In goal, we expect Guglielmo Vicario to retain his spot, with the goalkeeping department being the one area that has not been hit by injuries.

In front of him, Spurs should line up with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Destiny Udogie – their strongest defensive setup.

In midfield, things get more interesting. With Mohammed Kudus expected back in around ten days, Spurs could finally have a natural right midfielder to provide width.

Archie Gray would then slot in centrally alongside James Maddison to offer creativity, with Igor Tudor likely to stick with his 4-4-2 system.

Mathys Tel is set to continue on the left, with Wilson Odobert still not close to a return.

Up front, Tottenham’s two most clinical finishers are expected to lead the line – Richarlison and Dominic Solanke.

The bench should also look stronger, with Spurs able to call on Kinsky, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin, Rodrigo Bentancur, Djed Spence, Lucas Bergvall, Randal Kolo Muani, Joao Palhinha and Callum Olusesi.

Tottenham fans ramp up support ahead of a crucial clash, with plans now in place to create a major atmosphere before kick-off against Nottingham Forest.

Some belief has been restored at Tottenham Hotspur, who almost certainly looked destined for the drop given their 2026 struggles.

Spurs lost four games on the bounce under interim manager Igor Tudor in his first month in charge, but their form has since improved.

Tudor secured a draw against Liverpool last weekend before guiding Tottenham to their first win under his tutelage in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tottenham fans organise welcome event ahead of Nottingham Forest clash

The Spurs fans have since responded in positive spirits, with a message sent by THFC Flags urging a show of togetherness.

Several Tottenham players have been quick to repost the fan message as a show of unity in north London as they aim to beat the drop this season.

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Next on the agenda for Tottenham is an all-important relegation six-pointer with Nottingham Forest. A victory against the Tricky Trees will see Spurs go four clear of whoever sits in 18th.

However, a loss and a West Ham win could see Tottenham slip beyond those dreaded dotted lines.

Spurs supporters plan pre-match show of unity

In a show of togetherness, fans have organised a pre-match coach meet. The ‘Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up’ event is set to take place on Sunday, 22 March 12:00 PM UK time.

Tottenham supporters are being urged to play their part. For generations past and present, be in that number. The aim is to build the atmosphere as the team coach arrives at the stadium.

The atmosphere is expected to build along the High Road from 12:00.

The coach is due to arrive between 12:45 and 13:00.

Fans are advised to spread out along the route from White Hart Lane station to Sainsbury’s to avoid overcrowding.

Once the players are inside, supporters are encouraged to move towards the South Concourse to continue building the atmosphere.

Bring your colours and bring the noise as Spurs look to feed off the energy from the stands.

Anything could happen when Tottenham Hotspur do battle with Nottingham Forest, but we’ve attempted to predict three things which are likely to occur on Sunday afternoon.

Very little is certain about Tottenham Hotspur’s upcoming Premier League fixture, but the past couple of games may have provided some idea of what is to come.

Tottenham’s fans will be right behind their team

After the Crystal Palace defeat, it felt like a lot of Spurs fans had given up, with some almost indifferent to the looming possibility of relegation.

Tottenham were playing so badly that they were undeserving of any backing, especially considering how much it costs to buy a match ticket.

However, this was not the view of all the club’s supporters, and now the situation is looking very different after a couple of much better performances.

“All together always” is the battle cry ahead of Sunday’s massive contest, and every single follower of Spurs is going to be right behind their team from the moment the first ball is kicked.

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Tottenham will attack well, but concede at least one cheap goal

Spurs have performed much better over their past two matches, with some really positive attacking play. Still, this does not mean they have been perfect.

Guglielmo Vicario should have saved Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick at Anfield, and both Atletico Madrid’s goals were avoidable.

Julian Alvarez scored from a counterattack and he should really have been closed down more effectively before getting a shot on goal. The second was even worse, with Pape Matar Sarr failing to prevent David Hancko from heading home from a corner at the near post.

Therefore, Tottenham are likely to let in at least one goal due to substandard defending, but rest assured, there is going to be a lot to shout about at the other end of the pitch.

Both teams will be fighting for every ball

Spurs have finally woken up, and it seems Nottingham Forest were never really asleep in the first place.

The visitors this Sunday have picked up two successive draws in the Premier League, one of which came at the Etihad Stadium.

Tottenham have been even more impressive over the course of the past week and will have all the motivation in the world to get a result.

Undoubtedly, both sides are going to give absolutely everything to stop the other from collecting all three points, so it should be a great watch.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has revealed what he thinks Tottenham Hotspur are planning over Pedro Porro’s future as some of the biggest clubs in Europe circle over the right-back.

Over recent days, speculation linking Pedro Porro with a move to Inter Milan has intensified, and they are not the only club allegedly eyeing the Spurs defender.

According to some sources, Real Madrid are also plotting a move for the Tottenham right-back this summer, as the Lilywhites sit on the brink of relegation disaster.

There have even been some suggestions that Spurs may cash in on Porro if the price is right, but it has now been asserted that the North London club may be planning something different.

Tottenham want to hand Pedro Porro a new contract amidst Man City interest

In the past, Porro has been linked with a return to Man City, where he first came through the ranks before heading to Sporting Lisbon.

Journalist Pete O’Rourke has now revealed that Pep Guardiola’s men are indeed eyeing a move for the 26-year-old, having had him on their radar for a long time.

However, O’Rourke believes that Spurs will not be keen on letting the defender go and will hand him a new deal if they manage to stay up.

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O’Rourke told Football Insider: “(Man City) have had a long-term interest in Pedro Porro. They know all about the Spanish international, having signed him from Girona in 2019.

“I’m sure a number of clubs, not just Manchester City, are looking at Porro and other Tottenham players to see who they could maybe steal away if the worst happens to Tottenham and they are relegated.

“Ideally Spurs, if they do sort themselves out and secure Premier League survival, they would probably want to tie down someone like Porro to a new contract. Their ongoing struggles are giving some of their rivals a bit of hope that they could be susceptible to offers for the top players, including Porro.”

Porro has emerged as a leader for Spurs amidst disaster

The Spain international has stepped up as a leader over recent weeks and made all the right noises in the media.

Porro has insisted that the Tottenham squad are playing for Tudor, putting to rest suggestions that the Croat has already lost the dressing room.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes that Tottenham Hotspur face a ‘crucial’ decision this summer, beyond their search for a new manager.

There has been plenty of speculation on who Spurs’ next permanent head coach would be, with Igor Tudor’s deal running out at the end of the season.

However, it is not just the managerial position that Tottenham Hotspur need to fill as they embark on another summer of change.

Tottenham have reportedly stepped up their search for a new sporting director to replace Fabio Paratici and to work alongside Johan Lange.

Tottenham backed to turn to Dougie Freedman

Paul Winstanley and Dougie Freedman have been linked with the Tottenham sporting director role, and former Everton CEO Keith Wyness believes that the decision will prove ‘crucial’ for the club’s trajectory.

He suggested that Tottenham had the wrong man in place over recent years, and he believes that Freedman, who is currently working at Saudi club Al-Diriyah, would be the right fit for the Lilywhites.

Wyness told Football Insider about Spurs’ search for a new sporting director: “It’s something that Spurs seem to have got wrong for a long time. Daniel Levy controlled a lot of the player decisions for too long. I know he would have listened to a degree to his sporting directors, but he seemed to have the final major decision-making vote. And it hasn’t worked as we’ve seen now.

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“It did work for a couple of seasons, and they did all right in Europe, but then it is, you know, the fall from grace is there to be seen from everybody, and I think the sporting director role is one that they’ve got wrong for a period of time. So this will be pretty crucial.

“As I say, if I was Spurs right now, if I was there, Dougie Freedman would be my number one pick. He may be unhappy with the present world events in Saudi and so may want to be thinking about coming home. There’ll be tax implications for him and all those sorts of things as well, but I think he might be my number one choice if I could make it happen.”

What does Dougie Freedman’s CV look like?

Freedman is best known for his work at Crystal Palace, where he held the role between 2017 and 2025 before making the switch to the Saudi Pro League side last summer.

The 51-year-old oversaw the signings of Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise and Adam Wharton when he was the South London club’s director.

He has previously also managed the Eagles, as well as Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest, all of whom were playing in the Championship when he was in charge.

A senior Tottenham midfielder has given an interesting statement about his strengths after being singled out for criticism on many occasions over the course of the campaign.

Almost no one across the Tottenham squad has played to their potential this season, which explains why Spurs find themselves in the middle of a relegation scrap.

The new faces at the club have had an extremely challenging time adapting to what appears to be a chaotic environment with immense pressure, in light of the team’s continued struggles.

One senior midfielder, who arrived at Spurs in the summer, was getting a fair share of the blame earlier in the season for being the Lilywhites’ Achilles heel.

Many suggested that Joao Palhinha’s inability to progress the ball was hindering Spurs, who looked unable to open up opposition sides.

Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha knows what his strengths are

Earlier in the season, Jamie Carragher suggested that Palhinha’s shortcomings in possession are why no other big club wanted him.

However, the 30-year-old Tottenham midfielder is clear in his mind about what his biggest strengths are and insists that he will not change the way he plays.

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Speaking in the Jogo Pelo Jogo podcast, Palhinha said: “I am a player who likes to defend, to win duels, to help the team without the ball. I know sometimes I can make fouls or get yellow cards, but it is part of my game.“I will not change that, because it is what makes me the player I am.”

“I always try to give balance to the team, to be in the right position and help my teammates. My job is to be focused, to close spaces and to be ready for the moments when the team needs me.”

Palhinha opens up on Premier League’s unique challenges

The midfielder, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, looks made for English football, given his aggression, physicality and his competitive edge.

That is demonstrated by the fact that Palhinha often tops the charts for tackles in the English top-flight, and he admitted that one cannot afford to switch off while playing a Premier League game.