Tottenham have received a big boost ahead of the trip to Sunderland.
Roberto De Zerbi took Tottenham Hotspur’s reins earlier this week, and he’s now preparing to avoid relegation with the North London club.
The 46-year-old signed a five-year deal with the Lilywhites, showing his commitment to the club regardless of the potential relegation fears. Unveiled as the Tottenham permanent head coach on Tuesday, Roberto De Zerbi took his first training session at Hotspur Way on Friday. The Italian met his new squad for the first time as our senior squad got to work post-March international break.
During the recently-concluded international break, Spurs were handed two injury setbacks. Pape Matar Sarr couldn’t represent Senegal in the friendly against Gambia due to a shoulder injury. There were concerns regarding Mathys Tel as well.
The forward was deemed unfit to participate in France Under-21’s Euro qualification games against Luxembourg and Iceland. He was initially picked by the France Under-21 coach, but an injury sustained in Tottenham’s 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest led to him being sent back to the club.
Tottenham receive huge injury boost in Roberto De Zerbi’s first training session
According to a report from Football London, De Zerbi has received an encouraging injury boost on his first day working with Tottenham’s squad, as Mathys Tel was spotted taking part in Friday’s training session.
The Frenchman is one of the few Tottenham players who have managed to stay fit all season until Tottenham’s last game against Nottingham Forest before the March international break, where he limped off in the second half. It was enough for him to withdraw from France Under-21s international duty.
Now, those fears have been allayed, with Tel seen training with the first-team squad ahead of next weekend’s trip to Sunderland. The Sarcelles-born talent has been one of the few bright sparks during a torrid run of form that includes no Premier League win in 2026 for the North Londoners. He has three goals in 31 appearances in all competitions this season and started Spurs’ last three league games under former interim boss Igor Tudor, as well as both legs of their Champions League last-16 tie with Atletico Madrid.
Having Tel shake off his knock and return to training is a big boost for De Zerbi. The versatile forward is now in contention to make a return to the squad against Sunderland, which will mark De Zerbi’s first game in charge of the relegation-threatened Spurs. It will be interesting to see how the French youth international fits into the 46-year-old’s system.