Tottenham Hotspur head to the City Ground on Saturday to face Nottingham Forest with manager Roberto De Zerbi still grappling with a lengthy injury list, though there is some encouraging news emerging from the treatment room as the Premier League season gathers pace.
De Zerbi has been candid about the physical toll the club's pre-season tour has taken on his squad, suggesting it left Spurs underprepared for the rigours of the opening weeks of the campaign. That has been reflected in a string of fitness issues, with even the club's most recent recruits failing to escape the medical staff's attention.
Among the walking wounded is Savio, the £85 million arrival from Manchester City, who is now back available after a muscle injury. The Brazilian winger made an instant impact on his debut against Charlton, coming off the bench to both score and provide an assist, but he was subsequently ruled out of the matchday squad for the defeat to Newcastle after picking up a fresh issue in training. His return will be a welcome boost for a Spurs side that struggled for attacking spark against the Magpies.
There is further good news further forward, with Mohammed Kudus back in contention after making his first appearance since January as a substitute last weekend. His comeback adds much-needed depth and creativity to a Tottenham attack that has looked toothless in recent matches.
Perhaps the most significant development, however, concerns Dejan Kulusevski. The 26-year-old has revealed he is back in full team training after a year-long absence that required two separate operations to correct a complicated knee problem. While the club are expected to handle his return with caution given the severity of the injury, his progress represents a major positive for De Zerbi as the season develops.
The primary concern for the Italian coach remains James Maddison, who fractured his shoulder in the opening-weekend clash with Brentford. The midfielder sat out the loss to Newcastle and is considered a serious doubt for the trip to Nottingham, with his absence likely to be keenly felt given his importance to the side's creative output.
On the recruitment front, Tottenham have successfully registered deadline-day signings Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo in time to be considered for selection this weekend. Mudryk's situation is a delicate one, as he has not featured in a competitive fixture since November 2024 following a doping suspension. De Zerbi has indicated that the winger is currently only fit enough to handle around 30 minutes of action, meaning any involvement against Forest would likely come from the bench.
There is no place in the squad for Richarlison, who has been omitted from De Zerbi's Premier League plans after making clear his intention to leave the club. Tottenham are said to be working to find the Brazilian forward a new club, with reported interest from sides in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
De Zerbi's predicted starting eleven for the encounter is expected to be: Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Tonali, Fernandes; Savio, Marmoush, Tel.
Alongside Maddison's doubtful status, Tottenham remain without Simons, Odobert and Kulusevski, though the latter's return to full training offers hope that his lengthy layoff may soon be coming to an end.
Kick-off at the City Ground is scheduled for 3pm BST on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.