Tottenham's early struggles under Roberto De Zerbi are exacerbated by a growing injury list, with the club languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table.
The international break may offer a glimmer of hope for the injured squad, as they gear up for a challenging fixture schedule. Spurs will face Manchester United at Old Trafford on October 10, followed by matches against Coventry and a trip to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea.
Pedro Porro is among the casualties, having suffered a hamstring injury during the clash with Aston Villa. He is expected to be sidelined for around a month, aiming to return for the showdown against Chelsea on October 24. De Zerbi had some words regarding Porro's injury:
After the World Cup, I stressed that our approach to Pedro should change due to the number of matches. I'm unsure about the specifics of his injury, but I suspect it’s the hamstring. I hope it's nothing too serious.
Midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk should also make his comeback in October following an ankle injury he sustained during training.
Mudryk's injury was quite ridiculous; he was just training without making tackles or sudden movements and suddenly felt pain in his ankle. Two days later, he underwent a medical examination. We were aware it wouldn't be easy for him to return to action immediately like a typical player.
Dejan Kulusevski is nearing a long-awaited return after more than 500 days out of competitive action due to a knee injury sustained in May last year against Crystal Palace. He returned to training at the end of August but took a short break afterwards.
We need to work with Dejan in close collaboration with the medical team. He deserves to get back on the pitch. It's key that we work diligently day by day. This international break is crucial for him, as once he finds his optimal condition, he’ll feel like a new signing.
Wilson Odobert is also in the final stages of recovery from a serious knee injury suffered in February against Newcastle and is on track to return in November.
However, Xavi Simons faces the longest path to full recovery, having damaged his cruciate ligaments against Wolverhampton on April 25. The midfielder is not expected to return until late January.
