The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the recent North London derby was undeniably heavy with the weight of expectation and the harsh reality of a relegation scrap.
Despite the 4-1 scoreline in favor of the league leaders, there were flickers of defiance from a squad that has been pushed to its absolute physical limit. Interim head coach Igor Tudor found himself in the unenviable position of having only thirteen fit first-team players available for selection.
It is a staggering statistic that highlights the medical crisis currently gripping the club. While the return of Dominic Solanke and Richarlison to the matchday squad provided a much-needed morale boost off the bench, the treatment room at Hotspur Way remains dangerously crowded.
For any team to find consistency, a stable defensive line is essential. Unfortunately for Tudor, the right-back position has been a revolving door of late. Pedro Porro, a vital cog in Tottenham’s attacking transition, has now been absent for five consecutive matches. There was a glimmer of hope that the Spaniard might make a heroic return for the derby, but he ultimately failed to make the squad.
The focus now shifts toward a more realistic comeback against Fulham. His return on March 1st would provide a massive boost in width and delivery, something the side desperately lacked against Arsenal.
Further up the pitch, the absence of young talent Lucas Bergvall continues to be felt. The Swedish midfielder has been out since late January following ankle surgery after a successful Champions League outing. While the club has been cautious about setting a specific deadline for his return, the latest updates from his native Sweden are largely positive.
Bergvall has reportedly shed his protective walking boot and is progressing through his rehabilitation program without setbacks. If his recovery maintains this trajectory, he could be back in contention by late March or early April, just in time for the final sprint of the season and Sweden’s international commitments.
The defensive woes don’t end with Porro. Kevin Danso’s struggle with a torn ligament in his big toe has left a significant void in the center of the park. This injury came at a particularly poor time, coinciding with Cristian Romero’s suspension and leaving the team vulnerable during high-profile clashes against the league’s top sides.
Current projections suggest Danso might be ready for a return to the grass by late February or early March, providing he passes his final consultations with the medical specialists.
On the opposite flank, Destiny Udogie is once again battling his recurring hamstring issues. After sustaining an injury during the defeat at Old Trafford, the left-back was handed a five-week recovery window.
Hamstring injuries are notoriously fickle, requiring a careful balance of rest and strengthening to avoid a relapse. The club’s medical staff is currently targeting a mid-March return, which would see him back in the starting eleven for the crucial home stretch of the campaign.
The creative department has also taken a massive hit with the long-term absence of Mohammed Kudus. Since picking up a hamstring injury in early January, the winger has been working tirelessly to regain fitness, even traveling back to Amsterdam to consult with specialists he trusted during his time at Ajax.
Kudus is a player who relies on explosive speed and agility, so his return to full training is being handled with extreme care. He is currently aiming to be back in the fold following the March international break, with April looking like the month where fans might see him back in action.
Perhaps the most heartbreaking news concerns Wilson Odobert. After suffering a serious knee injury against Newcastle, the club confirmed that surgery was the only viable path forward. The young attacker faces a grueling road to recovery that will likely keep him sidelined until late 2026.
This long-term setback is a blow not just to the current squad depth but to the player’s personal development, and the club has publicly rallied behind him during this difficult transition.
The list of “walking wounded” extends even further back into the history of the current season. Dejan Kulusevski has been battling a complicated patella injury since the end of the previous campaign. While early February reports were bleak, the player recently shared social media footage of himself performing intensive single-legged squats, suggesting the strength is returning to his right leg.
If he remains pain-free, a return to the grass could happen within the next month, though a competitive return remains difficult to predict.
Midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is also looking at a lengthy spell on the sidelines following hamstring surgery in mid-January, likely ruling him out until the spring. Meanwhile, the club may have seen the last of veteran Ben Davies.
The Welsh international suffered a broken ankle against West Ham, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, his twelve-year tenure at Spurs may have reached a premature and unfortunate conclusion. Finally, James Maddison remains the most high-profile absentee, with his pre-season knee surgery keeping him out for the entirety of this campaign.
| Player | Injury Type | Estimated Return |
| Pedro Porro | Muscle | March 1 |
| Kevin Danso | Toe Ligament | Early March |
| Destiny Udogie | Hamstring | Mid-March |
| Lucas Bergvall | Ankle (Post-Op) | Late March / April |
| Mohammed Kudus | Hamstring | April |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | Hamstring (Post-Op) | Spring 2026 |
| Wilson Odobert | Knee (Surgery) | Late 2026 |
| James Maddison | Knee (Surgery) | Summer 2026 |
It is clear that Igor Tudor’s greatest challenge isn’t just tactical; it is survival in the most literal sense. Managing a squad where nearly an entire starting eleven is unavailable for selection requires a level of pragmatism and patience that few coaches are ever asked to display.
As the players slowly trickle back from the treatment room, the hope is that they can provide the necessary spark to lift the club out of danger and secure their Premier League status for another year.
