James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski returned in more positive updates, with the latter making a first appearance in a year and a half after a kneecap problem.
asserted
latter → return → problem
But with a mammoth London derby against Chelsea looming this weekend, De Zerbi will be sweating over the fitness of some key members of his squad.
asserted
Zerbi → loom → squad
Omar Marmoush
Marmoush was on target for Spurs on Monday, but he later pulled up and needed replacing.
asserted
he → pull → Monday
He went down holding his calf and received treatment before being taken off and replaced by Mathys Tel.
asserted
He → go → Tel
De Zerbi, though, was quick to play down his issue at full time.
asserted
Zerbi → play → time
“No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important,” the Italian said.
asserted
Italian → think → ?
The Egyptian striker should be in contention to face Chelsea and could take the place of the misfiring Dominic Solanke.
uncertain
striker → face → Solanke
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Destiny Udogie
Left-back Udogie was a surprise exclusion when De Zerbi named his squad to face Coventry.
asserted
Zerbi → name → Coventry
Speaking ahead of kick-off, the Spurs boss told Sky Sports that he had suffered a knee knock against Manchester United.
asserted
he → speak → United
He said: "Destiny Udogie played 70 minutes and he suffered a problem in his knee and we didn't take a risk."
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Pedro Porro
asserted
we → say → Chelsea
He picked up the injury early on in the 3-2 loss against Aston Villa, and was set to miss a month.
asserted
He → pick → month
Last week, De Zerbi said of the Spaniard: “Pedro - I think - is not [out] for many games.”
asserted
I → say → games
The defender himself took to social media last week to reveal that he was nearly ready for a return, with a post captioned “almost back.”
asserted
he → take → post
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Savio
Summer arrival Savio sustained an injury after the draw at United.
asserted
Savio → sustain → United
De Zerbi said of the Brazilian: “Unfortunately, Savio, on Tuesday before leaving for Marbella, felt a muscular problem and we have lost him for some weeks.”
asserted
we → say → weeks
It remains unclear as to when the winger will return or quite what his issue is, but it remains to be seen whether he will be back before the next international break.
uncertain
he → remain → break
After starting against Coventry, left-back Robertson pulled up with a problem in the second period.
asserted
Robertson → start → period
He played through it for about five minutes as he waited for a break in play, but ultimately went down and was forced off.
asserted
he → play → play
Speaking afterwards, though, De Zerbi seemed confident he had not suffered a serious injury.
asserted
he → speak → injury
He said: “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.”
asserted
I → say → ?
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Tosin Adarabioyo
Spurs’ worries were doubled when Tosin Adarabioyo, making his first league start, went down at the exact same time as Robertson on Monday.
asserted
Adarabioyo → double → Monday
He appeared to have sustained a calf issue and was upset as he was taken off.
But, as with Robertson, De Zerbi seemed confident he had not suffered a serious injury.
asserted
he → appear → injury
He said: “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.”
asserted
I → say → ?
Potential return date: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)
Lucas Bergvall
Bergvall was another to suffer a knock at Old Trafford, with De Zerbi confirming he picked up an injury in attempting to set up a chance for Dominic Solanke.
asserted
he → suffer → Solanke
Fortunately, though, he will not be away for long, with De Zerbi saying: “Bergvall had a problem in Manchester early on in the first chance he created for Solanke.
asserted
he → say → Solanke
“He felt pain in his knee but felt fine and on Sunday he came to the training ground and he'll be out for two weeks.
asserted
he → feel → weeks
By that timeframe, he is expected to miss this weekend’s London derby.
asserted
he → expect → derby
Potential return date: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)
Mykhailo Mudryk
Loan arrival Mudryk played just one game for his new side before suffering a long-term ankle issue.
asserted
Mudryk → play → issue
De Zerbi has branded that injury “stupid,” and it has been reported it was expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks.
asserted
it → brand → weeks
Updates on his condition have been few and far between since then, but that initial prognosis could see him return to contention on Halloween.
uncertain
him → see → Halloween
Potential return date: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)
Xavi Simons
Simons was struck down with an ACL injury when Tottenham visited Wolves in April.
asserted
Tottenham → strike → April
He immediately underwent surgery and missed the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, but is pushing through his recovery at Hotspur Way.
asserted
He → undergo → Way
He shared a video to his social media this week training with a ball at his feet, suggesting he is making positive progress.
Despite that, he is not expected to feature until the new year.
Potential return date: January
Wilson Odobert
Odobert also tore the ACL in his left knee as Newcastle beat Tottenham back in February.
He underwent surgery and has been in recovery at Hotspur Way since.
asserted
He → share → Way
He is said to be progressing well, though, and could return sooner than the usual nine-month recovery timeline might suggest.
uncertain
timeline → say → ?
The Aporia
