UPDATED: Spurs injury update Bergvall, Solanke, Dragusin latest return dates
Tottenham Hotspur endured yet another frustrating evening as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Chelsea in the London derby, with Thomas Frank’s side struggling to recover from a nightmare start at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The match began with an early setback for Spurs when young midfielder Lucas Bergvall, handed a surprise start by Frank, was forced off after taking a ball to the face inside the opening ten minutes. Despite his pleas to continue, concussion protocols meant he had to be withdrawn and replaced by Xavi Simons, disrupting Tottenham’s rhythm before they could find any foothold in the game.
While the result was a bitter pill to swallow for Frank and his players, there were some positives to take. Guglielmo Vicario produced a string of fine saves on his return to the starting lineup, and the comeback appearances of Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie offered encouragement after their respective injuries. With two games remaining before the November international break, attention now turns to Spurs’ lengthy injury list and the potential return dates of several key players.
Lucas Bergvall
Bergvall’s unfortunate evening came to an abrupt end after just nine minutes when he suffered a concussion from a ball striking his face. Though the teenager pleaded with Frank and the medical team to stay on, he was rightly substituted in accordance with Premier League concussion guidelines.
Frank later confirmed the decision, saying:
“There was a concussion. He couldn’t stay on, and I think the medical team did a good job in that instance.”
Per concussion recovery rules, Bergvall must now rest for a minimum of 12 days, meaning he will be unavailable until after the international break. It’s an untimely setback for the promising midfielder, who has been eager to impress under Frank.
Potential return date: November 23 vs Arsenal (A)
Archie Gray
Another young talent, Archie Gray, missed the Chelsea clash after picking up a calf injury during training last week. The issue ruled him out of the trip to Newcastle as well, and Tottenham are being cautious with his rehabilitation.
Potential return date: December
Dominic Solanke
Tottenham’s new striker Dominic Solanke is yet to make his first start under Thomas Frank after sustaining an ankle problem in pre-season. The England international underwent minor surgery after failing to fully recover, but the manager insists the club are taking a patient approach.
“We are very aware of doing it the right way,” said Frank. “It’s going in the right direction, but he won’t be available before the international break. Hopefully, touch wood, we can have him back soon and with no setbacks.”
Potential return date: Late November / Early December
Radu Dragusin
There is positive news regarding Radu Dragusin, who has been sidelined since January with a serious ACL injury sustained in a Europa League tie. Frank revealed that the Romanian defender has returned to full training and is making good progress in his recovery.
“He’s definitely getting closer to being involved. We just need to give him some of the bigger area work because we don’t train that much as a group. But he’s coming along nicely.”
With continued improvement, Dragusin could make his long-awaited return in the high-stakes north London derby immediately after the international break.
Potential return date: November 23 vs Arsenal (A)
Kota Takai
Japanese youngster Kota Takai, who joined from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer, is edging closer to his first appearance for Spurs. The defender has spent months recovering from a serious knee injury but has recently rejoined full training.
Frank explained the situation:
“He’s fully integrated into training now. An ACL is a big injury — you’re out for nine months, and you need to rebuild strength and confidence in the knee. He’s about to be training soon and getting closer to full fitness.”
Potential return date: Late November
Yves Bissouma
Midfielder Yves Bissouma has had a turbulent campaign so far. After being excluded from the UEFA Super Cup squad due to disciplinary reasons, he picked up an injury and only briefly returned to action for Mali during the October international break — before being stretchered off with a fresh ankle ligament problem.
Frank confirmed the extent of the issue:
“Biss unfortunately had a situation with the national team. He got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks.”
Potential return date: Unknown (likely November/December)
Ben Davies
Welsh defender Ben Davies has barely featured for Spurs this season, with his only appearances coming during international duty. However, his last outing for Wales ended early after he sustained a hamstring injury in their 4-2 defeat to Belgium.
Frank said his recovery would take “around four or five weeks,” and the left-back has since undergone a successful surgery. Tottenham hope to have him back toward the end of the month.
Potential return date: Late November
Dejan Kulusevski
Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on his patella following Tottenham’s Europa League final appearance. The 25-year-old is working tirelessly on his rehabilitation but is yet to resume outdoor training.
Frank provided an update ahead of the Chelsea game:
“He’s still not on the grass. He’s working very hard to get fit as quickly as possible.”
Potential return date: December
James Maddison
The biggest long-term concern for Tottenham remains James Maddison, who suffered a devastating ACL injury during pre-season. The England international has already undergone surgery and faces an extensive recovery process that could see him miss the entire 2025–26 season.
Potential return date: Summer 2026
Summary
While Spurs’ defeat to Chelsea was another disappointing chapter in their recent run of form, there is cautious optimism within the camp. The returns of key players like Romero and Udogie offer stability, and with Dragusin, Solanke, and Takai all nearing full fitness, Frank may soon have more options at his disposal. However, the lengthy absences of Maddison, Kulusevski, and Bissouma remain significant hurdles as Tottenham look to steady their season before the year’s end.