New Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has walked into a daunting first assignment at Hotspur Way, with his mission to guide the club clear of relegation complicated by a significant injury crisis affecting key areas of his squad.
The Italian, who began work last Thursday, faces a critical run of fixtures starting at Sunderland on April 12 with his team’s resources stretched. His possession-based, high-pressing tactical philosophy—which brought Brighton & Hove Albion European football—will be tested immediately as he assesses which players he can call upon.
The Scale of the Crisis
The treatment room at Spurs’ training ground is crowded, with issues ranging from short-term knocks to season-ending setbacks. The situation presents a severe challenge for a club of Tottenham’s stature, which has not suffered relegation from the top flight since the 1976-77 season.
Some clarity is emerging for the immediate future. Forward Mathys Tel, who withdrew from the France Under-21 squad with a groin problem sustained in the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, has returned to full training. The club believes the injury is not serious, making him likely to be available for the trip to the Stadium of Light.
Midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, however, is a doubt for that match. The Senegal international suffered a shoulder injury on international duty, ruling him out of a friendly against Gambia. De Zerbi is expected to provide a definitive update on his condition ahead of the game.
There is more positive news regarding Rodrigo Bentancur. The midfielder, out since January with a torn hamstring that required surgery, is reportedly progressing ahead of schedule. His personal fitness coach has indicated he is around 15 days ahead of the original timeline, and he has returned to field-based training. A return in April is now targeted, with the Sunderland match a possibility, though a comeback later in the month may be more realistic.
Key Returns Require Clarification
The timelines for two other crucial players, however, contain more uncertainty and will be pivotal to De Zerbi’s plans. Winger Mohammed Kudus, a summer signing who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since January 4, has been pictured back in team training. Former interim boss Igor Tudor gave a cryptic update, suggesting Kudus could be involved “maybe 10 days” after the international break.
Internal club belief, however, points to a return later in April, which would rule him out of the matches against Sunderland and the visit of Brighton on April 15. His return for the trip to Wolves on April 25 appears a more likely target, offering a major boost for the run-in.
An even more complex recovery surrounds first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian underwent hernia surgery on March 20, a procedure the club stated was “timed” for the international break to minimise disruption. Tottenham has expressed hope that Vicario can “return to action within the next month,” which would point to mid-April.
However, standard NHS guidance for such surgery suggests a recovery can take four to six weeks, potentially pushing his availability into May. His deputy, Antonin Kinsky, is expected to start at Sunderland. Vicario had been struggling with the issue, which worsened during the Champions League match against Atlético Madrid last month.
Long-Term Absences Weigh Heavy
Beyond the immediate concerns, De Zerbi must plan for the final weeks of the campaign without several players whose seasons are over. Attacking midfielder James Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season last summer, is highly unlikely to feature this term, with a potential return date noted as June 1.
He has been posting recovery videos on social media, but his absence has been a defining blow to the squad’s creative output. Similarly, young forward Wilson Odobert is out for the season after tearing his ACL earlier this year, with a return unlikely before November.
The injury list also includes a player who may have made his final appearance for the club. Veteran defender Ben Davies is likely to have played his last game after breaking his ankle against West Ham. The 32-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was stretchered off in that defeat.
Another long-term absentee is Dejan Kulusevski. The midfielder has been out since May of last year with a persistent patella injury, which required a second knee surgery in February. He was seen limping during a visit to the Sweden camp, sparking concern, but he has since insisted the procedure was positive and that he is “slowly and surely coming back.” He is targeting a return to action, with his focus on being fit for the World Cup this summer.
