Tottenham Hotspur look set to welcome some big names back to the matchday squad before the end of the season.
Roberto De Zerbi may have to wait until the end of April before he can unleash Tottenham Hotspur’s secret weapon in the Premier League relegation battle. The Lilywhites are just one point – and a hefty goal difference – away from the bottom three, and they could fall into the relegation zone if they lose to Sunderland this weekend.
Spurs are yet to win a game in the English top-flight this year, so the Italian, who’s been tasked with keeping them up, will be determined to taste victory at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for Tottenham, West Ham have the opportunity to pile on the pressure.
The Hammers can set the pace on Friday night when they face Wolves at Molineux. Even if the Lilywhites surrender ground in the race for survival, they’re set to welcome some big names back to the matchday squad before the end of the season – one of them being Mohammed Kudus.
The 25-year-old winger, who suffered a hamstring injury in January, could return to action later this month. Kudus has been pictured in first-team training ahead of Tottenham’s clash against the Black Cats.
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Although his inclusion in the matchday squad would be a huge boost, Igor Tudor previously suggested that the Ghana international wouldn’t be available until the end of April, when Spurs face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, April 25
Speaking to reporters ahead of Spurs’ clash against Nottingham Forest, the former interim boss appeared to put a 10-day return date – from the first day back after the international break – on Kudus. That would rule him out of clashes against Sunderland and Brighton.
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However, it remains unclear exactly when Kudus will be back, and De Zerbi will be expected to provide an update when he faces the media on Friday afternoon. When the Italian decides the time is right, he’ll be playing his trump card.
The Ghanaian, whom Tottenham signed from West Ham for £55m in the summer, enjoyed a brilliant start to life in north London, scoring one goal and providing five assists in his first seven Premier League games. Kudus had helped Spurs climb into third place.
Even when the forward suffered a hamstring injury during the draw to Sunderland, he left Spurs just a handful of points from the top half of the table. Kudus was the shining light for Tottenham, and it’s no coincidence that Tottenham nosedived into a relegation battle in his absence.
According to Statmuse, despite having spent the last three months on the sidelines, only three players have managed to complete more successful dribbles in the Premier League this season than Kudus (51). Jeremy Doku (59) tops the charts; he’s closely followed by Yankuba Minteh (55) and Iliman Ndiaye (54).
The Tottenham winger will undoubtedly become a key player for De Zerbi during the run-in, and for years to come. During his first interview as Spurs boss last week, he outlined his immediate plans for Kudus and the rest of the squad.
“I love keeping the ball,” De Zerbi told the in-house media team. “I love possession, I love great chances to score, but at the same time, I love 11 defenders when we have not the ball, because in this time of football, we have to attack with 11 players, with the goalkeeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not for us.
“In this moment, we have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have a good organisation, with the ball, without the ball.
“We have to consider the qualities of the players. We are lucky – I am lucky – because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”
