North London Derby awaits as Tottenham gear up to face task.
Igor Tudor walks into Tottenham at the worst possible time in terms of availability, with the squad stripped to its bones just days before a North London derby that could define the mood of the run-in. As many as 11 senior players see themselves missing out. Here is an extensive injury update on the squad from The Standard.
Skipper Cristian Romero remains suspended, and Wilson Odobert’s anterior cruciate ligament rupture has only deepened the sense of crisis around the club. Yet there is a flicker of hope that a couple of key names could return in time to face Arsenal.
Pedro Porro is one of them. The right back has been out since the 2-2 draw at Burnley with a hamstring issue and has missed the last four matches. He has been pushing hard in rehab to make the derby, and there is cautious optimism that he could be in the frame. His return would be massive. Especially given the lack of fullback options and the need for experience and delivery in high-pressure games.
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Richarlison is another who could tip the balance. Injured against Aston Villa on January 10, the Brazilian was initially ruled out for up to seven weeks. He remains Spurs’ leading Premier League scorer this season with seven goals in 21 appearances. But with Dominic Solanke’s availability, this one might not sting as much.
Kevin Danso’s situation is less clear. The centre back damaged a ligament in his toe during the Champions League win over Eintracht Frankfurt and has already missed several games. The expectation is that he is still weeks away, which leaves Tudor juggling options at the back while Romero serves his suspension.
Destiny Udogie has suffered another hamstring setback and is ruled out for four to five weeks, making the derby too soon. Mohammed Kudus, sidelined since early January, is targeting a return after the March international break, while Lucas Bergvall faces a long spell out following ankle surgery that could sideline him until April or May.
Odobert will not play again this season after his ACL injury, and Dejan Kulusevski’s complicated knee problem still has no firm return date despite positive gym work. Rodrigo Bentancur is out for months following hamstring surgery, Ben Davies is recovering from a broken ankle with his contract ticking down, and James Maddison remains sidelined long-term after his pre-season knee injury.
For Tudor, the derby comes amid chaos. A couple of timely returns could steady the ship, but the broader picture remains grim. It is straight up a matter of making sure that Spurs remain in the Premier League next season for someone else to come in the summer and take it forward.