It’s that time of the week to take a look at the Tottenham squad and when Roberto De Zerbi’s injured players could be back in action.
Just as Roberto De Zerbi brings one of his Tottenham players back from the treatment room, he loses another.
Spurs have returned from a hot four-night training camp in Marbella, but despite all the good vibes the ongoing trip has brought the squad together, injuries remain a problem for the North London club. However, there is good news for De Zerbi, who is free of one long-term injury at his Sunday morning press conference to return for Monday night’s home game against Coventry City.
Here are the latest news and potential return dates for the seven Tottenham players in and around the treatment room.
Savio
A new addition to Spurs’ injury list as the £85million winger begins to find his feet at his new club.
De Zerbi announced the news at Hotspur Way on Sunday, saying: “Savio. Unfortunately, Savio felt a muscle problem on Tuesday, yes, the first day at our training ground before we go to Marbella. Unfortunately, we’ve lost him for a couple of weeks, but (that’s what it is).”
When football.london Later in the press conference, checking whether “a few weeks” meant many weeks, De Zerbi grimaced and then said without much optimism: “I don’t know, but I’m sure a few weeks.”
Return date: Unknown but doesn’t sound anytime soon.
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Says Kulusevski
Dejan Kulusevski is set to return to the matchday squad on Monday night after 527 days out.
The Swedish player has been sidelined since last May in the Premier League after suffering a severe injury to the patella in his right knee in the Premier League match against “Crystal Palace”. The 26-year-old suffered several setbacks during his recovery, which meant he missed the entirety of last season as well as this summer’s World Cup.
Now with a good training block under his belt, Kulusevski is set to make his long-awaited return.
football.london De Zerbi was asked what the moment was to tell the Swede that he was back in the squad after a long absence.
“I talked to him after practice yesterday and I told him that I talked to the medical staff and they gave me a good answer,’ and he smiled like that (big smile),” he said.
“And we are happy. We are very, very happy. This is not football. I am not talking about football. OK, he is a special player, but we are talking about different things. He suffered a lot and his reaction was great.”
He added: “Yes, Kulusevski is on the bench. We met with the medical staff. They gave the OK and that’s great news.
“I think this is one of the best news after the Everton game last season because Deki suffered a lot. He deserves to feel the emotion on the pitch.”
The footballer himself announced on Instagram on Sunday: “And we’ll see you tomorrow. I told you I’d be back. Now’s the time.”
Return date: 19 October v Coventry.
Lucas Bergvall
Another new name for the injury list, Lucas Bergvall, has been conspicuous by his absence from the latest training photos and videos since starting his Manchester United draw.
De Zerbi duly briefed the 20-year-old Swede at his press conference on Sunday.
“Lucas Bergvall [is out] because he had a problem at the beginning of the game in Manchester. The first chance we created with Solanke, when he (Bergvall) returned the ball, he felt pain in his knee and finished the game, but the day after Manchester, on Sunday, he came to the training ground for our medical staff. And I think two weeks [out].”
Return date: Potential October 31 – Crystal Palace.
Pedro Porro
Tottenham’s World Cup winner had just returned from a muscle problem when he picked up a hamstring injury in the 15th minute of the defeat to Aston Villa.
Porro announced he was “almost back” from injury as he posted a remarkable video on social media showing off his physical prowess. It was the right-back in what looked like Tottenham’s revamped Hotspur Way first-team gym, leaping from a sitting position onto a chest-high plyometric box.
football.london He suggested last month that the Spaniard could return against either Coventry or Tottenham, playing it safe and giving him five days before the trip to Chelsea from the capital.
We asked De Zerbi on Sunday and he confirmed which one it was, saying: “Pedro, I think he will come. Maybe he can play at Chelsea.”
Return date: October 24 – Chelsea
Mykhailo Mudryk
football.london Mykhailo Mudryk suffered an ankle injury in training and is out for anywhere from four to eight weeks after just one game for Spurs.
De Zerbi confirmed the news at a press conference at the end of the week, saying: “It was a stupid injury for Mudryk and we hope he will be back as soon as possible. He felt pain in his ankle while playing without support, without different movements, and two days later he underwent a medical. We already knew that it could be difficult to come back. [immediately] like a normal player.”
The 25-year-old is on the mend and is doing everything possible with his physio and medical staff to try and make a comeback.
Return date: Hopefully before the international break.
Wilson Odobert
Odobert tore his ACL in the 35th minute of a Premier League match against Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 10.
The France Under-21 international made 33 appearances for the North London club, registering five assists and two goals before suffering an injury in Thomas Frank’s final game for the club. This meant that Odobert would not be playing for interim boss Igor Tudor and, more importantly, De Zerbi.
It is now eight months into his rehabilitation and Odobert will now be in the final stages of his recovery. It won’t be long before we see the full-back back in training.
Return date: The usual nine-month time frame points to a reversal next month.
Xavi Simons
Xavi is also on Tottenham’s ACL injury list when they face Wolves at Molineux. Like Odobert, the 23-year-old has youth on his side, which could help him return sooner than normal, because things heal a little faster when you have time on your side.
Xavi suffered the injury on April 25 and a nine-month spell would see him back in training in January. The Dutchman will work hard to try to make a quicker comeback, but must be wary of coming back too soon and risking another tear.
De Zerbi has put Xavi in his Premier League squad ahead of Richarlison, which sends a message to everyone and also says he believes the playmaker may not be as tall as we all think.
Reports in Holland have claimed the midfielder won’t be back until February, but Xavi may have other ideas.
Return date: With the usual timetable at the end of January, but Xavi will try to beat that.