Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this weekend with a fresh start under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi, with a clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
The Europa League holders went into the international break on the back of a disappointing 3-0 loss to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, which ultimately led to the dismissal of interim boss Igor Tudor and will be hoping to bounce back with a big result this time around.
In a very familiar pattern this season, Spurs will once again be without several key players for the crucial clash with different injury concerns.
First-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has been ruled out after undergoing hernia surgery. The Italian shot-stopper had been playing through discomfort for most of the campaign and is now expected to spend several weeks on the sidelines.
Vicario’s absence leaves Antonin Kinsky as the most likely replacement, allowing the Czech Republic goalkeeper to redeem himself after enduring a disastrous performance in his last outing for the club, where he lasted just 17 minutes in a heavy 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
“Vicario is not ready for this game. I hope he comes back earlier next week, but I don’t know yet”, De Zerbi said in quotes revealed by the official Tottenham Hotspur website.
Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is also unavailable, as he continues his recovery from hamstring surgery. Although the Uruguayan has returned to training, this game comes too soon for him.
“Bentancur is working with us, but not completely, but we are enough to fight, to play and to make points”, De Zerbi added.
Mohamed Kudus, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, and Ben Davies also remain out of action.
Kudus was close to making a return after resuming full training, but suffered a setback earlier in the week, which could require surgery, potentially ruling him out for the remainder of the season.
Maddison and Kulusevski, however, are hopeful of returning before the end of the campaign, while Odobert has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious ACL injury earlier this year.
With pressure mounting, Tottenham will be desperate to secure their first Premier League win of 2026, which could prove vital in their fight to avoid relegation.
