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New Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi sweating over fitness of some key players

Latest: Guglielmo Vicario, Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski

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Oli Gent

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Roberto De Zerbi has taken over a Tottenham squad still battling an injury crisis as he bids to save them from relegation.

De Zerbi is due to start work at Hotspur Way on Thursday, when Spurs players who have been away on international duty will be returning to the training ground.

Spurs have a week and a half to prepare for his first game in charge, away to Sunderland on April 12, and De Zerbi will hope to have some key players back for the run-in.

But De Zerbi has been dealt a fresh injury concern to add a lengthy list of players who have been missing.

With that in mind, Here’s all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...

Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus is closing in on a return after being sidelined since January with a hamstring injury.

The winger was injured against Sunderland on January 4 but is back in training as he targets a comeback.

Mohammed Kudus has been out since January with a hamstring injury

Getty Images

Igor Tudor said on Kudus before the international break: “Probably [be] some part of the things with the squad, maybe 10 days. I don't know, I'm not sure, we need to check.”

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It was not clear exactly what Tudor meant but it has been reported that Spurs insiders felt he meant Kudus would be back 10 days after the end of the international break.

That would rule him out of games against Sunderland away and then Brighton at home. Spurs then face Wolves at Molineux on April 25.

Potential return date: April

Guglielmo Vicario

Guglielmo Vicario is recovery from hernia surgery.

Spurs announced on March 20 that the operation had been “timed” for the international break in order to “have as minimal impact as possible”.

Guglielmo Vicario is recovering from hernia surgery

Getty Images

The club said their hope was that Vicario “return to action within the next month” but Antonin Kinsky seems set to play in goal at Sunderland.

Spurs will hope Vicario can make a swift recovery, given Kinsky’s nightmare night against Atletico Madrid.

Potential return date: Saturday, April 15 vs Brighton (H) or Saturday, April 25 vs Wolves (A)

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski has raised hopes that he is finally closing in on a return by outlining his aim to make the Sweden squad for the World Cup this summer.

Kulusevski has been out since last May with a patella injury and his recovery has been hit by several setbacks.

Dejan Kulusevski has just undergone fresh surgery

Instagram/@dejan.k10

This week, Kulusevski visited the Sweden camp before their World Cup play-off win and inadvertently sparked more fears over his fitness after seen limping badly.

Kulusevski confirmed he has recently undergone another surgery but claims he has "never felt better" as he targets the World Cup.

“I understand that people were worried [by the limping], but it was really for the wrong reason," he said. "It was really positive that I did this little procedure and that we were able to find the problem.

"Now everything should be good. It’s just a matter of slowly and surely coming back. I can see the light. It feels better now.

"I really have a positive feeling about [the] World Cup in two or three months. This is how the book and the chapter will end. I’m convinced of that … I'm very confident with where I am today."

Potential return date: Unknown

Pape Matar Sarr

De Zerbi has already been dealt an injury concern after Pape Matar Sarr was unable to feature for Senegal in their friendly with Gambia on Tuesday.

Sarr joined up with Senegal last week and featured in their 2-0 win over Peru on Saturday but was left out of the squad to face Gambia on Tuesday due to a shoulder injury.

De Zerbi will next provide an update on the injury situation at Spurs next week when he holds his press conference ahead of the Sunderland game.

Potential return date: Unknown

Mathys Tel

The French forward Mathys Tel withdrew from France’s Under-21 squad this month with a groin injury.

It comes at a hugely frustrating time for the youngster, who had started to impress under Tudor.

Now, however, that progress could be stunted with an absence, although there is belief that he could be back within the next few weeks.

Potential return date: Sunday, April 12 vs Sunderland (A)

Mathys Tel’s injury before international break is Spurs’ latest blow

REUTERS

Rodrigo Bentancur

Key midfielder Bentancur has been sidelined with a torn hamstring that he had surgery on after he sustained the issue against Bournemouth.

Tudor said that the Uruguayan had been “progressing” with the ball at his feet as he continued his recovery, and the former Juventus man could be set for a return to action this month if things go to plan.

Potential return date: April

James Maddison

While the attacking midfielder has posted videos of himself upping his recovery on YouTube and TikTok, it still remains unlikely that he will feature at all this term after his ACL injury that he suffered in pre-season last summer.

Potential return date: June

Wilson Odobert

Another whose campaign is over is the young French forward Wilson Odobert, who also tore his ACL against Newcastle earlier this year.

He underwent surgery in February and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Potential return date: November

Ben Davies

Welsh veteran Davies is likely to have played his last game for the club after he broke his ankle against West Ham.

The defender was stretched off in the defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It could well be his final match in north London, with the 32-year-old out of contract come the end of the season.

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Man City face Spurs on Sunday seeking to record successive Premier League wins after beating Wolves last weekend to end a four-game winless run in the competition.

However, City preparations for their showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have been slightly disrupted with Guardiola not able to fulfil his media duties ahead of the game.

In Guardiola’s place on Friday afternoon for the pre-match press conference was his assistant Pep Lijnders and he explained the Spaniard’s absence as well as confirming the City boss is expected to be in the opposing dugout on Sunday.

“The manager is good as always, full of ambition and passion but he is in a personal matter,” Lijnders told reporters.

Man City will also be boosted by the returns of Rodri, Marc Guehi and Antoine Semenyo against Spurs after all three missed the 2-0 Champions League win over Galatasaray in midweek.

Rodri served a one-match ban following his red card in the shock loss to Bodo/Glimt last week, while Guehi and Semenyo had not been registered in City’s Champions League squad after their arrivals this month.

City, though, will be without a host of senior players against Tottenham - including Oscar Bobb after his £27million transfer to Fulham was confirmed on Friday.

Jeremy Doku picked up a calf injury on Wednesday night to join John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic and Savinho in the treatment room.

This weekend’s game comes too soon for Ruben Dias to make his return to action as he is pencilled in to take part in team training at the beginning of next week.

In the new league phase format, which came into play last season, the top eight teams progress straight through to the last 16 and avoid a two-legged knockout play-off tie.

Tottenham, despite their struggles in the Premier League and both domestic cup competitions this term, have been good in Europe and qualified for the knockout phase with a game to spare.

In fact, Spurs won all four home games under Thomas Frank without conceding a single goal against Villarreal, FC Copenhagen, Slavia Prague and Borussia Dortmund.

Furthermore, two points from a possible nine on the road left Tottenham with a great chance of sealing a top-eight finish ahead of their final league phase fixture away at Eintracht Frankfurt, which they won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Dominic Solanke.

Tottenham’s progression straight through to the last 16 means they will not face fixture congestion in February.

The last-16 draw will take place on Friday, February 27. The first leg of those ties will be played on either March 10 or March 11, with the return fixtures a week later.

As a result of finishing fourth in the league phase, Tottenham will either face the winners of the knockout phase play-off between the 19th and 20th seeds, or the 13th and 14th seeds.

Randal Kolo Muani put an eventful couple of days behind him with a goal to send Tottenham through to the Champions League last-16 with a 2-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kolo Muani was an unused substitute during Spurs' disappointing 2-2 draw at Burnley on Saturday amid speculation former club Juventus wanted to bring the France forward back this month before he was involved in a car crash on Tuesday.

The Paris St Germain loanee was fine and despite a late arrival in Germany, he grabbed the crucial 47th-minute opener against his old team before Dominic Solanke added a second to ease the pressure on under-fire boss Thomas Frank, with Tottenham remarkably able to finish fourth in the league phase of the competition.

Spurs were without 14 players for this tie in Germany, which was untimely for Frank after he faced more criticism from his own supporters on Saturday after the draw with Burnley made it two wins from 14 in the Premier League.

Kolo Muani got the nod against his old club and despite being heavily booed, his first involvement nearly produced the opener.

After getting in down the left, his cross was spilled by Kaua Santos and Xavi Simons fired home, but away celebrations were cut short with Destiny Udogie adjudged to have committed a foul in the build-up.

Tottenham regrouped but not long after Joao Palhinha had seen a header tipped wide, results elsewhere meant the Premier League club had dropped to ninth in the league phase.

A flurry of chances followed with Udogie inexplicably unable to get a touch on a Kolo Muani cross with the goal at his mercy before a smart turn and shot by Wilson Odobert from 20 yards smashed against the inside of a post.

Simons should have scored on the half-hour mark too when he stole in after a poor pass by Santos, but the Frankfurt goalkeeper made amends with a vital save.

Frankfurt issued a warning sign on the stroke of half-time when Hugo Larsson fired over via the crossbar after beating Tottenham's offside trap.

It ensured it stayed 0-0 at half-time, but the opener arrived just 66 seconds into the second period.

A set-piece did the trick with a short free-kick routine able to create space for Simons, who chipped in for Cristian Romero and his header found Kolo Muani to bundle home from close range.

A poor touch by Frankfurt's Aurelio Buta squandered a good opening for the hosts shortly afterwards before Kolo Muani sent his latest effort wide.

Santos was called into action by Pape Sarr's curler before Frank turned to his bench, with Solanke introduced for the bright Odobert in the 73rd minute.

Four minutes later and Solanke secured Spurs' place in the last-16 with the striker able to run through and drill the ball into the bottom corner to earn a fifth victory in the competition and secure fourth spot.

Pep Guardiola is not expected to have Jeremy Doku available as Manchester City visit Tottenham on Sunday.

The Belgian winger started as City breezed by Galatasaray on Wednesday night, but lasted just 37 minutes before being withdrawn with a calf injury.

Speaking at full-time, Guardiola said: “[He is] Injured. The calf. He felt something.”

Asked whether he would miss the Tottenham clash, he responded: “I think so. Not just tonight all season but he has these problems, muscular. Hopefully in March he can be ready.”

Should he be ruled out, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo should take on the wing positions, with Tijjani Reijnders and Bernardo Silva operating in the central positions.

Rodri played no part against Galatasaray as he served a suspension and should be restored to the side in defensive midfield here, allowing Nico O’Reilly to return to his native left-back.

Guardiola’s injury headaches persist in defence, despite Matheus Nunes’ comeback. He may be forced to continue in Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones’ absence, though Marc Guehi’s availability will provide another boost - he is not yet eligible to play in the Champions League.

Nathan Ake and Abdukodir Khusanov got the nod against Galatasaray, with the former most likely to keep his place against Tottenham. Max Alleyne, recently recalled from his loan to Watford, is also an option.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is in no danger of losing his place, and Erling Haaland, who broke his goal drought on Wednesday night, should keep his place.

Thomas Frank out to snap Premier League winless run

Tottenham face Man City in the Premier League

ES Composite

Arthur Ferridge

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Tottenham are back in Premier League action this weekend, hosting Manchester City.

Thomas Frank came under considerable pressure after opening 2026 with a rocky run of results, but alleviated the scrutiny somewhat with a convincing 2-0 defeat of Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek.

Spurs are winless in five in the Premier League, but have a chance to get back to winning ways here as Pep Guardiola’s injury-ravaged City make the trip south.

They too are on shaky form coming into this match having suffered chastening defeats so Michael Carrick’s Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt in recent weeks, but have now won two on the spin against Wolves and Galatasaray.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Tottenham vs Manchester City is scheduled for a 4.30pm GMT kick-off on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

The match will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Man City

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event.

Coverage on Sky Sports Premier League will begin at 4pm ahead of a 4.30pm kick-off, while coverage on Main Event will go live at 4.25pm.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau at the ground.

Tottenham vs Man City team news

Thomas Frank is facing a wide range of injury headaches ahead of City’s visit.

Lucas Bergvall remains sidelined with a sprained ankle, with Ben Davies and Rodrigo Bentancur also out with long-term injuries.

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Options are thin in attack with both Richarlison and Mohammed Kudus ruled out until March and April, respectively, with thigh injuries. Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are long-term absentees.

Injury blow: Lucas Bergvall

Action Images via Reuters

Pedro Porro may play a part despite being left out of the squad to face Frankfurt in midweek, with Frank putting his absence down to load management.

City, meanwhile, remain in the throes of a full-blown injury crisis, with Pep Guardiola to be without some seven first-team players for the trip to north London.

The injuries come primarily in defence, with Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones all set to miss out.

Elsewhere, Savinho is on the comeback trail after picking up a quad injury against Sunderland.

Injured: Jeremy Doku

Action Images via Reuters

Jeremy Doku may also miss out after being substituted with an injury in the Galatasaray match.

Nico Gonzalez made a comeback in midweek, though, appearing off the bench to alleviate some of the pressure on Guardiola’s side.

Oscar Bobb is not expected to be involved as he pushes for a move away from the club, with his transfer to Fulham thought to be in teh final stages.

Tottenham vs Man City prediction

Thomas Frank may have found his groove in Europe, but his continued struggles in the Premier League suggest we could see Spurs stumble again here.

In the past, though, Frank has shown a certain aptitude for getting the better of Guardiola. He did so earlier this season in just his second domestic match with Spurs, and twice with Brentford.

Guardiola will be on high alert, then, particularly with so many first-team players ruled out against a Spurs side growing in confidence.

But with Erling Haaland back amongst the goals and Rodri fit and available, he should have the tools at his disposal to get three points here.

Man City to win, 2-1

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Spurs came out on top in the reverse of this fixture, winning 2-0 at the Etihad in the second week of the Premier League season with Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha on the scoresheet.

Tottenham wins: 66

Man City wins: 64

Draws: 35

On the scoresheet: Joao Palhinha

REUTERS

Tottenham vs Man City match odds

Tottenham to win: 7/2

Man City to win: 4/7

Draw: 12/5

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Tottenham and Aston Villa have been fined £125,000 by the FA for the mass confrontation that took place following their FA Cup third round tie earlier this month.

The confrontation, which included players and staff from both teams, was sparked on the pitch at full-time at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Spurs crashed out of the FA Cup.

The incident occurred after Spurs midfielder Joao Palhinha pushed Ollie Watkins for celebrating in front of the away fans after the full-time whistle.

Villa players Morgan Rogers and Lamare Bogarde then intervened before players and staff streamed across the pitch to try to break up the altercation.

Both sides were charged by the FA earlier this month, with fines handed out as punishment after the two clubs admitted to the charges.

“I don’t think so. I guess you have seen the situation through? I just saw it to be sure I saw what I saw. Of course, it’s all about keeping a cool head,” Frank said

“The players gave everything, everything out there, [but] losing a tight game, season not going perfect and I think Ollie is very provoking.

“The way he is going down to celebrate in front of the Villa fans, and he is walking into Joao, he can just easily walk around. I think everyone that has been in a competitive nature, that is difficult and can trigger things.”

A statement from the FA read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Aston Villa FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC for the mass confrontation that occurred at their FA Cup match on Saturday 10 January.

"It was alleged that both clubs failed to ensure their players and/or officials did not behave in an improper and/or provocative way after the final whistle.

"Tottenham Hotspur FC and Aston Villa FC subsequently admitted the charge against them. The Regulatory Commission imposed a £125,000 fine on both clubs, and their written reasons for these decisions can be seen below."

Spurs know a win will guarantee a last-16 spot

Tottenham face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League tonight

ES Composite

Your matchday 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 again look to the Champions League for potential respite as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt with a top-eight finish up for grabs.

A commanding 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund last week means Spurs have it in their own hands to avoid a play-off game and secure a place in the last-16.

With their Premier League form miserable, Spurs could do without two more games in a February which already looks extremely difficult.

Frankfurt have been eliminated, so have nothing to play for, but could be seeking revenge for Spurs knocking them out of the Europa League last season.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off today, Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

The match will take place at Deutsche Bank Park.

Where to watch Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 5, with coverage starting at 7.30pm GMT.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.

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Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Sam Tabuteau.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham team news

Frankfurt will be without several players for the visit of Spurs, with Arnaud Kalimuendo, Elias Baum, Jonathan Burkardt, Michy Batshuayi, Timothy Chandler and Younes Ebnoutalib all struggling with injuries.

Spurs are in worse shape and look set to be without 14 players for the trip to Germany.

Pedro Porro has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury, while Micky van de Ven will also miss out on Wednesday with a minor problem.

Frank will be desperate for Joao Palhinha to return, having now missed three games through injury, as Conor Gallagher is not eligible to play in the Champions League. If Palhinha is not fit, then Pape Matar Sarr, now back from the Africa Cup of Nations, or Archie Gray will come in.

Elsewhere, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Rodrigo Bentancur, Richarlison, Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison miss out.

Mathys Tel, Souza, Radu Dragusin and Yves Bissouma are also ineligible.

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham prediction

Who knows which Tottenham side will turn up in Germany. A command win over Borussia Dortmund last week came in the middle of two miserable performances in the Premier League, in defeat to West Ham and then snatching a last-gasp draw at Burnley

Spurs clearly do perform better in Europe, and sit in fifth heading into the final round, knowing a fifth win in eight games will secure passage straight into the last-16 stage.

Frankfurt have been eliminated, so have nothing to play for, and fell to a miserable defeat at home to Hoffenheim at the weekend. They have bigger fish to fry in the Bundesliga, having dropped to eighth, which could play into Spurs’ hands.

Frankfurt 2-2 Tottenham

Head to head (h2h) history and results

These two meets met over two legs last season in the Europa League quarter-finals, which Spurs won 2-1 on aggregate including a 1-0 win in Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt wins: 1

Tottenham wins: 3

Draws: 2

Eintracht Frankfurt vs Tottenham match odds

Eintracht Frankfurt to win: 11/4

Tottenham to win: 8/11

Draw: 23/10

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

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