Tottenham are set to be without the services of Mohammed Kudus for the remainder of the season.
Tottenham Hotspur were dealt a massive blow on Thursday when Mohammed Kudus suffered a setback on his return from injury.
The Ghanaian has missed three months of action, having been sidelined since January 4 due to a quad injury. He had been set to return to training during the March international break. However, new head coach Roberto De Zerbi has been dealt an early blow with the 25-year-old’s anticipated availability for the final seven games of the campaign now in doubt after the club confirmed that he will undergo groin surgery.
There was a lot of optimism when Mohammed Kudus was spotted in team training earlier this week during Tottenham’s preparations for the Sunderland fixture. The creative winger has been sorely missed by the Lilywhites, who are without a league win since the turn of the year.
Roberto De Zerbi makes admission on Mohammed Kudus
Ahead of the trip to Sunderland, De Zerbi held his first press conference as the Tottenham boss. In that, the Italian admitted how big a blow Kudus’ latest setback is, after he returned to training earlier this week. Nonetheless, our gaffer believes he has enough firepower to get them out of trouble.
“I started with not big luck. Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position,” De Zerbi said in his press conference (h/t Football London).
“But we have to look forward. I think we have a lot of very good attackers. [Randal] Kolo Muani, I know, is not playing a good season, but he is a good player. Mathys Tel, I wanted at Marseille, Xavi [Simons] is a big talent. Richarlison and [Dominic] Solanke as well, I mean, you probably know better than me.”
Kudus’ injury is a massive blow for De Zerbi’s Tottenham
Kudus arrived at Tottenham in a £55 million deal from London rivals West Ham last summer. In James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski’s injury absences, he was expected to become the club’s key creative outlet. He did do well until his injury, supplying three goals and six assists in 26 appearances across all competitions.
De Zerbi had big plans for the Ghanaian attacker, viewing him as a “key player” in his head. Technically gifted and tactically smart, the African star would have fit De Zerbi’s system like a glove. Kudus’ ability to drift inwards from the right flank, drag players out of their positions and drive with the ball would have helped his fellow attackers to exploit the spaces and hurt the opposition. He would have flourished in an attacking, pressing system, allowing him the rhythm and confidence which the ex-West Ham man lacked under Thomas Frank.
With Ghana involved in this summer’s World Cup, Kudus also faces a race against time to feature in the tournament in America.