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Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi faces uncertainty as players return from international duty, with some gaining valuable experience while others suffer injuries. Among the winners are young defender Omar Marmoush, who scored his first goals of the season for Egypt, boosting his confidence. However, defenders Mickey van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke are listed as losers due to injury concerns that could affect their availability upon returning to Spurs.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Tottenham Hotspur, currently at the bottom of the Premier League table and winless in their first five league games, face mounting pressure on manager Roberto De Zerbi. Players who were not called up by their national teams or recovered from injuries used this period for rest, returning to training last week. De Zerbi has criticized his team's fitness levels this season and hopes the break allowed players to improve physically.
Players like Antonin Kinsky of the Czech Republic, who made his senior international debut despite a loss against Spain, and veteran Andy Robertson, who reached his 100th appearance for Scotland, could return with boosted confidence. However, De Zerbi must now wait anxiously to see how the players who were active during the international break fare upon their return to training this week.
Written for “Tottenham Team Performance” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Rock bottom of the Premier League table and without a win from their first five league games, the pressure is slowly increasing on Roberto De Zerbi, and he will hope his players have come back re-energised after spending time with their respective countries.
asserted
players → increase → countries
Meanwhile, those not called up by their countries, or who withdrew through injury, were given a week off before returning to training at Hotspur Way.
asserted
who → call → Way
De Zerbi has bemoaned his side’s lack of fitness this season, so he will no doubt have used the extended break to build his team’s physical robustness as they head into a crucial run of fixtures.
asserted
they → bemoan → fixtures
That said, the Italian faces an anxious waiting game to see what condition Spurs’ internationals turn up in as they make their way back to England over the course of this week.
asserted
they → say → week
Here, Standard Sport assessed the winners and losers from the international break…
asserted
Sport → assess → break
Winners
Antonin Kinsky
Made his senior international debut for the Czech Republic as they were beaten 3-1 by Spain.
asserted
they → make → Spain
An important milestone for the 23-year-old, even if his side were well beaten by the World Cup holders.
asserted
side → beat → holders
The veteran full-back made his 100th appearance for Scotland, captaining Sebastien Pocognoli’s side to a 2-0 win over North Macedonia.
asserted
back → make → Macedonia
Robertson is just the second man to reach 100 appearances for Scotland and is closing in on Kenny Dalglish’s all-time record of 102 caps.
asserted
Robertson → reach → caps
Scored a hat-trick as France U21s beat Switzerland 7-1 to take his tally for the international break to five goals.
asserted
U21s → score → goals
Also came off the bench to score the winning goal as France beat Luxembourg 3-2 to seal their spot at the European Under-21 Championship finals next summer.
asserted
France → come → finals
Luca Williams-Barnett
Played a starring role for England’s U19s, scoring in back-to-back games against Norway and the USA.
asserted
Barnett → play → Norway
Read More
Scored a brace as Egypt ran out 5-0 winners in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.
asserted
Egypt → read → Sudan
De Zerbi will hope Marmoush’s first goals of the season can provide a much-needed confidence boost.
asserted
goals → hope → boost
Mateus Fernandes
Captained Portugal’s U21s to qualification for the European Under-21 Championship finals, assisting Goncalo Oliveira from a corner as they beat Gibraltar 4-0.
asserted
they → captain → Gibraltar
Despite turning down a call-up to play for Ghana, Kudus is arguably the biggest winner from the international break after choosing to focus on his rehabilitation from a serious quad injury.
asserted
Kudus → turn → injury
Kudus could feasibly have played over the international break but did not want to risk suffering a setback and instead chose to work with Spurs’ medical team to ensure he is back to his best.
uncertain
he → play → best
The Tottenham captain is expected to be fit, but the innocuous injury potentially leaves De Zerbi with another selection headache.
asserted
injury → expect → headache
Jan Paul van Hecke
Returned to Spurs early after suffering a foot injury in the Netherlands’ first game against Serbia.
asserted
Hecke → return → Serbia
Van Hecke completed the 90 minutes but saw the issue flare up in an open training session the following day.
asserted
issue → complete → session
It is unclear how severe the injury is and whether Van Hecke will be fit to face United this weekend.
uncertain
Hecke → face → United
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