Tottenham Hotspur could receive a significant boost ahead of their crucial London derby against Chelsea this weekend, with right-back Pedro Porro pushing to return from injury.
Spurs have endured several injury setbacks this season, making it difficult for head coach Roberto De Zerbi to maintain consistency in his team. Although the club have made changes to their medical approach and squad management, injuries continue to cause problems.
Tottenham have already welcomed Dejan Kulusevski back after more than 500 days on the sidelines. There have also been encouraging developments regarding the recoveries of Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons following their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
However, the North London club have continued to lose players to fitness problems in recent weeks.
PORRO COULD BE BACK AGAINST CHELSEA
Pedro Porro has endured a frustrating start to the 2026/27 campaign, with injuries preventing him from making a significant contribution to Tottenham’s season.
The Spanish right-back was expected to play an important role following his impressive performances towards the end of last season. His contributions helped Spurs through a difficult period, and he remained one of the key players heading into the new campaign.
Unfortunately, several fitness problems have restricted his involvement to just 224 minutes across all competitions.
Porro’s latest setback came when he suffered a hamstring injury during Tottenham’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa before the international break. The problem forced him off after just 19 minutes, leaving the club without one of their important attacking outlets on the right flank.
Despite the setback, the defender has offered encouraging signs that his return is approaching.
Last Friday, Porro shared a video of himself working in the gym on Instagram, accompanied by the message, “Almost back.” Although he was not included in the squad for Tottenham’s match against Coventry City on Monday, there is renewed optimism that he could be available for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
DE ZERBI NEEDS HIS FULL-BACKS BACK
Tottenham’s injury problems have forced De Zerbi to experiment with his tactical approach.
During Monday’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City, the Italian manager opted for a system that did not feature a traditional right-back. The adjustment helped Spurs secure their first Premier League victory of the season, but repeating the same approach against Chelsea could present a much greater challenge.
The upcoming derby at Stamford Bridge will demand defensive discipline, attacking quality and the ability to exploit spaces out wide.
Having Porro available would give Tottenham another attacking option and improve their ability to create opportunities from the right-hand side.
The potential return of Destiny Udogie would also be encouraging, as the Italian left-back is another important player in Tottenham’s wide areas. However, Udogie recently suffered a knee problem that kept him out of the Coventry match, and his availability remains a separate concern.
For Spurs, getting both full-backs fit would provide a welcome boost as they prepare for one of their biggest challenges of the season.
A CRUCIAL TEST AWAITS TOTTENHAM
Tottenham will travel to Stamford Bridge hoping to build on their victory over Coventry and gain further momentum in the Premier League.
The possible return of Porro could prove particularly important, especially given the team’s recent struggles with injuries and the need for greater consistency.
While his availability is not yet guaranteed, the latest signs suggest that the Spanish defender is moving closer to a comeback.
Spurs supporters will now be hoping that Porro can recover in time to feature against Chelsea, giving De Zerbi another valuable option for the crucial London derby.
