Tottenham's head coach Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Mikhail Mudrik has sustained an ankle injury, leaving the Ukrainian unable to assist his team for a while.
Having just returned to action after a lengthy absence, Mudrik joined Tottenham on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day. Sadly, his recovery has once again hit a bump in the road.
De Zerbi: 'It was a silly injury'
De Zerbi revealed that the injury occurred during a standard on-pitch scenario, without any significant contact involved.
'Mudrik is out. It was a silly injury, unfortunately.'
The Italian coach explained that the player felt pain in his ankle while moving:
'He was playing without a tackle, without any sharp movements, but he felt pain in his ankle. After two days, he underwent a medical examination, and we discovered the issue.'
This indicates that the injury was not the result of a rash challenge or collision with an opponent.
'We knew it would be tough for him to instantly return to top level'
De Zerbi also highlighted the challenges Mudrik faces after such a long layoff.
The Ukrainian had been sidelined for nearly 20 months due to a doping-related suspension, with his comeback only occurring at the end of August. Following that, Mudrik made the switch to Tottenham, reuniting with De Zerbi, who had previously worked with him at Shakhtar Donetsk.
'When we signed Mudrik, we already knew it might be difficult for him to get back to his best straight away.'
This poses a significant problem for Tottenham, as the club had anticipated gradually increasing Mudrik's playing time following his extended period without action.
