The medical room at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is becoming increasingly crowded, much to the frustration of manager Thomas Frank. Following a difficult 2-2 draw against Burnley at Turf Moor, the London club is now monitoring several new fitness concerns alongside a growing list of long-term absentees.
While the team managed to avoid a total collapse thanks to a late equalizer from Cristian Romero, the cost of that single point may be measured in more than just dropped positions. With a grueling schedule ahead, including vital clashes against Eintracht Frankfurt, Manchester City, and Manchester United, the depth of the Spurs squad is being tested like never before.
Cristian Romero has once again proven to be the heart of this Tottenham side. Not only did he rescue the team with a stoppage-time header, but he has now managed to find the back of the net in three consecutive games.
However, the sight of the Argentine center-back hunched over in visible pain during the final seconds of the Burnley match sent a wave of anxiety through the traveling support. He was eventually pulled from the pitch for Radu Dragusin in the fifth minute of added time.
Fortunately, the post-match update from Thomas Frank was reassuring. The manager confirmed that Romero was simply suffering from intense cramping rather than a muscular tear. Given his importance to the backline, the club is hopeful he will be ready for the European trip to Frankfurt.
On the opposite side of the defense, Pedro Porro provided another scare. The Spanish international was withdrawn at halftime, replaced by Destiny Udogie. Porro has been a tireless workhorse for the club, starting fourteen consecutive matches across all competitions.
His early exit led to immediate speculation regarding a possible injury, but Frank was quick to clarify that this was a matter of workload management.
The coaching staff felt that Porro was reaching a physical limit and opted to introduce Udogie and Djed Spence to bring more “running power” to the flanks. Keeping Porro fresh is essential, as his creative output from the right-back position is a fundamental part of how the team attacks.
The situation surrounding Joao Palhinha remains somewhat more mysterious. The Portuguese midfielder has been missing for the last three matches, including the disappointing loss to West Ham and the midweek victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Initially described as a minor knock sustained during a training session, his recovery has taken longer than first anticipated. Frank had previously suggested it would be “tight” for Palhinha to make the squad for the Burnley game, but he ultimately failed to travel.
The medical team is now focused on getting him back on the grass for the upcoming Champions League fixtures, as his physical presence in the middle of the park has been sorely missed.
While the updates on Romero, Porro, and Palhinha offer some hope for the short term, the long-term injury list at Tottenham remains quite grim. The club recently confirmed that young Swedish talent Lucas Bergvall is facing a significant spell on the sidelines.
After suffering a “contact injury” that resulted in a severe ankle sprain during the Dortmund game, the nineteen-year-old is expected to be out for two to three months.
This is a massive blow for the teenager, who was just beginning to find his feet in the first team. He is now unlikely to return until April 2026, meaning he will miss at least fourteen games during the most critical part of the season.
The defensive ranks were already thin following the devastating injury to Ben Davies. The Welsh veteran suffered a broken ankle against West Ham in a tragic moment that saw him stretchered off while receiving oxygen.
Having undergone surgery, Davies is now looking at a very long road back to fitness. There are legitimate fears within the club that he may have played his final game for the Lilywhites, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
This specific injury has forced the recruitment team to look for emergency solutions, including a pursuit of Liverpool’s Andy Robertson and the recent signing of the young Brazilian defender, Souza.
In the midfield, Rodrigo Bentancur is another key figure whose season has been interrupted. After sustaining a serious hamstring injury against Bournemouth, the Uruguayan underwent successful surgery but is not expected to return to action until April.
His absence has left a creative and defensive void that Thomas Frank has struggled to fill consistently. Joining him in the treatment room is Richarlison, who is dealing with a hamstring issue of his own. The Brazilian striker is expected to be out for roughly seven weeks, with a return date pencilled in for sometime in March.
The attacking third is further depleted by the absence of Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski. Kudus, a marquee summer signing, suffered a thigh tendon injury that will keep him out until after the March international break.
His injury is particularly poorly timed, as the club sold Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace in January, leaving the squad without a natural, fit right-winger. Meanwhile, Kulusevski continues a grueling rehabilitation process for a patella injury that has kept him out since last April.
While the Swede is working hard to return, the club is being extremely cautious to avoid any setbacks with such a complicated knee issue.
Finally, there is the ongoing absence of James Maddison. The England playmaker has not featured since a pre-season friendly against Newcastle where he suffered a torn ACL.
While he is making progress, he is not expected to see any competitive action until the summer of 2026. For a manager like Thomas Frank, navigating this many injuries to key personnel is a monumental task.
The hope is that the minor scares for Romero and Porro remain just that, allowing Spurs to keep some semblance of their core team together as they head into a season-defining month.
