Roberto De Zerbi is facing several injury concerns as Tottenham Hotspur prepare for their Premier League showdown against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Spurs are still searching for their first league victory of the season, and supporters will be desperate to see their team turn things around against Michael Carrick’s side.
De Zerbi is scheduled to speak to the media on Friday, when he is expected to provide important updates on the fitness of several Tottenham players ahead of the crucial encounter.
Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert will miss the trip to Manchester, with both players continuing their recovery from ACL injuries sustained last season. Neither player is expected to return for several months.
Mykhailo Mudryk is also unavailable after suffering an ankle injury during training last month. The winger is not expected to return until late October.
Meanwhile, Pedro Porro remains a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury during Tottenham’s match against Aston Villa last month. The right-back subsequently withdrew from Spain’s Nations League squad and has yet to resume full training. His potential return is currently expected around mid-to-late October.
However, Tottenham could receive some encouraging news regarding Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke and Dejan Kulusevski, who may all have a chance of returning to action against United.
Van de Ven and Van Hecke both returned early from international duty with the Netherlands after suffering separate injuries during the international break.
Van de Ven sustained an injury to his hand after Luka Jovic accidentally stepped on it during a match. The Tottenham captain appeared to be in considerable pain before being substituted.
However, Netherlands manager Xavi offered a reassuring update, explaining that the defender had experienced dizziness because of the injury to his finger but insisting that it was not serious.
Van Hecke also suffered an injury after being stepped on by a Serbian opponent. Although he initially attempted to continue, the discomfort eventually forced the Netherlands coaching staff to withdraw him from the squad.
Xavi explained that the defender was determined to participate in training but struggled with the pain and was unable to complete ball work during his recovery sessions.
Kulusevski, meanwhile, is edging closer to a long-awaited comeback after spending more than 500 days on the sidelines with a complicated knee injury.
The Swedish international has made encouraging progress during the international break, training alongside his Tottenham teammates and participating in an internal friendly at Hotspur Way.
The 11-a-side match featured senior players against a side made up of Under-18 and Under-21 players, representing another important milestone in the midfielder’s rehabilitation.
His return would provide a significant boost for De Zerbi, who has been waiting to welcome the talented midfielder back into the first-team squad.
Tottenham supporters will now be waiting for Friday’s press conference, when De Zerbi is expected to provide further information on the availability of seven players ahead of the trip to Old Trafford.
With Spurs desperate to secure their first Premier League victory of the campaign, the latest injury news could prove crucial in determining De Zerbi’s team selection against Manchester United.
