Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi has delivered a mixed injury report ahead of Saturday night’s high-stakes London derby against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. While the Italian boss has received a significant boost with the return of key personnel, he faces a nervous wait regarding his creative engine room.
The most welcome news for Spurs supporters is the return of Pedro Porro. The dynamic full-back has been sidelined since September 19, following a knock sustained in the 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa. After a successful period of rehabilitation and recent training, De Zerbi confirmed that Porro is back in contention for the starting XI.
Joining him in the squad are Andy Robertson and Omar Marmoush. Both players were initial injury concerns after appearing to pick up knocks during Monday night’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City. De Zerbi moved to quell fears, stating clearly that “Robertson is available” and “Marmoush is good,” signaling that both are ready to feature in the heated clash against the Blues.
However, the picture is less clear for midfield maestro James Maddison. Following his standout performance against Coventry—where he netted a spectacular first-half goal against his former club—Maddison missed three consecutive days of training. De Zerbi was cautious regarding the playmaker’s involvement, noting: “I don’t know if he is available for tomorrow. I don’t want to take risks because if you analyse this period of European football, you can see many, many injuries.”
De Zerbi indicated that he has ample tactical depth should he choose to bench Maddison, pointing to the availability of Mathys Tel, Marmoush, and Conor Gallagher as viable alternatives. Dejan Kulusevski, who recently returned from his own fitness layoff, also remains a doubt for a starting spot after spending time working on an individual training program this week.
The manager’s update also confirmed several absentees for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Destiny Udogie remains sidelined following the knock he picked up in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United. Addressing the left-back’s status, De Zerbi admitted, “After Manchester, I have not worked with him and it’s a problem.” Additionally, Lucas Bergvall and Savio have been ruled out due to injury, while Rodrigo Bentancur will play no part in the fixture as he serves a suspension.
Despite the mounting fixture congestion and injury concerns, De Zerbi remains optimistic about his squad’s depth. “We are lucky because in the same position we have many solutions,” he remarked, emphasizing that he will not compromise the long-term health of his players in a frantic early-season schedule. As Spurs prepare for one of their most challenging tests of the campaign, the manager’s ability to rotate effectively will be under the microscope at Stamford Bridge.
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