Start Him Tonight: Tottenham’s Most Dangerous Attacker Since Son Is Being Left on the Bench – Opinion
Tottenham Hotspur welcome Crystal Palace tonight with the opportunity to record three consecutive Premier League victories for the first time in more than 600 days.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side head into the London derby full of confidence following their impressive victory over Chelsea last weekend. The result at Stamford Bridge provided a much-needed lift for the squad, and another three points at home would further strengthen their momentum while increasing the pressure on Palace boss Pierre Sage.
Tottenham receive positive injury updates ahead of Palace clash
Speaking during his press conference on Friday, De Zerbi delivered encouraging news regarding several first-team players ahead of tonight’s encounter.
Destiny Udogie has been declared available after missing Tottenham’s previous two Premier League fixtures. James Maddison is also expected to feature in the matchday squad after being substituted against Chelsea as a precaution.
However, there were some disappointing updates, with several players still unavailable. Savio, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tosin and Lucas Bergvall have not recovered from their respective injuries and will miss the meeting with Palace.
Tottenham need more firepower in attack
With several attacking options unavailable, De Zerbi faces a challenge when selecting his forward line for the contest.
Tottenham’s struggles in front of goal have been particularly concerning this season. The Lilywhites have managed just eight goals in their opening eight Premier League matches, leaving them among the lowest-scoring teams in the division.
Even more worrying is the fact that none of their senior players has managed to score more than once during that period.
Mathys Tel finally opened his account for the campaign against Chelsea, but that was only his third Premier League goal since the beginning of 2026.
The numbers underline just how badly Tottenham need greater attacking inspiration.
Why De Zerbi must unleash Kulusevski from the start
There was a time when Tottenham rarely struggled to find the back of the net, particularly when Harry Kane and Heung-min Son were leading their attack.
Son, who captained the club to Europa League success, scored an incredible 173 goals in 454 appearances during his decade in North London.
His departure in 2025 left a significant gap in Tottenham’s attacking department, prompting the club to invest heavily in new attacking talent.
Dejan Kulusevski’s prolonged absence has made matters even worse. The Swedish international missed the entire 2025/26 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury, leaving Tottenham without one of their most influential attacking players.
After 526 days on the sidelines, the 26-year-old has finally returned, making two substitute appearances since recovering from the injury.
His return could prove hugely important for De Zerbi, particularly considering what he produced before being ruled out.
Kulusevski enjoyed the finest season of his professional career before his injury, recording an impressive 10 goals and 11 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions.
Those numbers demonstrate the attacking influence he brings, and Tottenham have struggled to find anyone capable of consistently matching that contribution during his absence.
For that reason, De Zerbi should seriously consider handing him a starting opportunity against Crystal Palace.
Naturally, the Italian must be careful not to overwork a player who has only recently returned from such a lengthy spell out. Nevertheless, Kulusevski possesses the creativity, technical quality and attacking intelligence to make a significant difference.
Even if he cannot complete the entire match, giving him around 50 minutes could provide Tottenham with the attacking spark they desperately need.
With three consecutive Premier League victories within reach, leaving one of the club’s most gifted attackers on the bench could be a decision De Zerbi may regret.
