The arrival of Roberto De Zerbi at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground has coincided with a series of updates from the medical department that can only be described as a mixture of relief and cautious optimism.
As the club prepares for a high-stakes trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, the headline news is the unexpected sighting of Mohammed Kudus back on the grass with the first-team squad.
For a side currently sitting just a single point above the relegation zone, the return of such a pivotal figure feels like a potential turning point in a season that has been defined by injury-induced frustration. However, while the visual evidence of Kudus training is a massive boost, the situation remains a delicate balancing act for the new coaching staff.
The context of Tottenham’s current struggles cannot be overstated. The team has endured a miserable run of form, failing to secure a single domestic victory in the current calendar year.
This collapse in results has coincided almost perfectly with the absence of Kudus, who has been sidelined since January with a significant hamstring injury. Initial medical assessments suggested the Ghanaian international would be out of action until the end of April, but his early return to training has defied those expectations.
For De Zerbi, who is known for his aggressive, attacking philosophy, having a player of this caliber available could be the catalyst needed to transform a stagnant front line.
Yet, there is a reason for fans to remain patient. Reports from within the club suggest that while Kudus is participating in sessions, the original recovery plan did not have him penciled in for the upcoming matches against Sunderland or Brighton.
Rushing a player back from a hamstring tear is a notorious gamble that often results in long-term setbacks. The decision on whether to include him in the matchday squad will likely rest on the outcome of Friday’s pre-match press conference, where De Zerbi will face the media for the first time. The Italian manager will need to decide if the risk of a re-injury outweighs the desperate need for three points in a survival scrap.
Beyond Kudus, the general atmosphere at Hotspur Way is improving as the treatment room finally begins to clear. There is a strong expectation that Mathys Tel and Pape Matar Sarr will both be available for selection this Sunday.
Both youngsters caused concern when they withdrew from their respective international duties last week, but their return to full training suggests those moves were more precautionary than indicative of serious damage. Having a nearly full-strength midfield and attack would allow De Zerbi to implement the intricate, possession-heavy style that made his Brighton teams so dangerous to the established elite.
The statistical reality of the season highlights exactly why everyone is so anxious for Kudus to return. Even though he has missed over three months of football, his impact on the team’s attacking output remains largely unmatched by his teammates.
He currently sits third in the squad for chances created, trailing only Pedro Porro and Xavi Simons. Perhaps more impressively, he leads the team in successful dribbles per ninety minutes. In fact, he has completed twenty-two more dribbles than any other player in a Spurs shirt this year, despite his long layoff. This ability to beat a man and break defensive lines is a quality that Tottenham has lacked during their recent domestic slump.
| Attacking Metric (Spurs 2025/26) | Player | Tally / Rank |
| Chances Created | Pedro Porro | 37 (1st) |
| Chances Created | Xavi Simons | 30 (2nd) |
| Chances Created | Mohammed Kudus | 23 (3rd) |
| Successful Dribbles (p90) | Mohammed Kudus | 3.0 (1st) |
| Total Dribbles Completed | Mohammed Kudus | +22 over next best |
The data confirms what the eyes of the supporters have seen: without Kudus, the team’s effectiveness in the final third has dropped off a cliff. He provides a level of fearlessness and unpredictability that forces opposition defenders to drop deeper, creating space for others to thrive.
If he can recapture even a fraction of his pre-injury form, he will be the most valuable asset in De Zerbi’s quest to avoid an embarrassing demotion to the Championship. The “silent operator” in the dugout knows that his tactical system relies on individuals who are comfortable in one-on-one situations and can retain the ball under intense pressure traits that Kudus possesses in abundance.
As the squad prepares for the journey to the North East, the focus is on stability and a fresh start. De Zerbi has emphasized the importance of ball retention and quick transitions, and the returning stars are central to that vision.
While the medical staff will likely advise caution regarding Kudus’s minutes, his mere presence on the training pitch has lifted the spirits of a squad that looked broken just a few weeks ago.
The road to safety is narrow, and the margin for error has disappeared, but with the “Beast” of the wing nearing a return, the outlook for Tottenham Hotspur suddenly looks a lot brighter. The next seven games will determine the club’s future, and for the first time in months, they might just have the right tools for the job.
