Tottenham Hit With Major Injury Concerns as De Zerbi Faces Early Season Selection Crisis
Tottenham Hotspur’s new era under Roberto De Zerbi has already delivered plenty of drama, and the early weeks of the 2026/27 campaign are beginning to test the Italian manager in ways he may not have expected.
After a huge summer rebuild that saw Spurs spend more than £330 million on a host of new arrivals, expectations around the club are enormous. Supporters want to see immediate results, but a difficult start on the pitch and a growing list of injury concerns could make De Zerbi’s job considerably harder.
Tottenham opened their Premier League campaign in nightmare fashion, suffering a painful 3-0 defeat to Brentford. They responded emphatically in the Carabao Cup, smashing Charlton Athletic 5-1 and giving supporters hope that the Brentford disaster was simply an early-season blip.
However, that optimism was quickly replaced by frustration when Spurs returned to Premier League action and suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle United.
Now, attention turns to Saturday’s trip to the City Ground, where Tottenham will face Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest. With Spurs desperately needing points, De Zerbi will be hoping that his squad can overcome its injury problems and finally produce the consistency expected after such a massive summer investment.
Savio Facing Race Against Time
One of the biggest questions ahead of the Forest clash surrounds new signing Savio.
The Brazilian winger made an instant impression on his Tottenham debut against Charlton, coming off the bench and finding the net just 11 minutes later. His explosive introduction immediately had supporters dreaming about what he could bring to De Zerbi’s attack.
Unfortunately, his momentum was halted almost immediately.
Savio had limited training involvement at Manchester City during the transfer saga and subsequently suffered a muscular problem. He missed the Newcastle defeat and is currently considered around 50/50 to feature against Nottingham Forest.
His availability could be crucial, particularly with Spurs desperate for more attacking creativity.
Maddison Suffers Another Setback
James Maddison’s injury situation has also become a major talking point.
After missing a large portion of last season because of a serious ACL injury, the England international suffered another setback when he fractured his shoulder during Tottenham’s opening-day defeat to Brentford.
Although the injury is reportedly not considered especially serious, Spurs are unlikely to take unnecessary risks with one of their most important creative players.
Maddison could potentially return against Forest, but the September 12 meeting with Everton appears to be a more realistic target.
For a player who has already endured such a difficult period with injuries, Tottenham will be desperate to ensure his recovery is handled carefully.
Odobert Facing Long Road Back
Wilson Odobert remains one of Tottenham’s longest-term injury concerns.
The French winger has been working through rehabilitation after suffering a ruptured ACL during Tottenham’s 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United in February. Surgery followed soon afterwards, bringing his season to an abrupt end.
His recovery remains a long-term project, with a possible return around the north London derby against Arsenal on December 5 potentially on the horizon.
That would be a huge boost for Spurs if his rehabilitation progresses smoothly.
Huge Kulusevski Boost
Perhaps the biggest positive injury update concerns Dejan Kulusevski.
The Tottenham attacker has finally returned to full training after an astonishing 477-day absence following a serious knee problem.
Kulusevski underwent a procedure on his patella cartilage after suffering the injury during a Premier League match against Crystal Palace in May 2025. His lengthy rehabilitation has been one of the club’s major injury stories.
However, Spurs will be extremely cautious with his comeback.
Given the severity and duration of his absence, Tottenham cannot afford to rush him back into competitive action. A carefully managed return, potentially involving late-September appearances, could be the most sensible approach as he rebuilds his match fitness.
If Kulusevski can return anywhere near his previous level, it could feel like another major signing for De Zerbi.
Xavi Simons Still Recovering
Xavi Simons is another significant absentee.
The attacker suffered an ACL injury against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April, ruling him out of Tottenham’s Premier League run-in and preventing him from making an impact during the Netherlands’ disappointing World Cup campaign.
Simons has undergone surgery and remains in rehabilitation.
Based on typical recovery timelines for similar ACL injuries, a return around late February could be possible.
For now, De Zerbi must focus on the players available to him.
Tottenham invested heavily during the summer in an attempt to transform the squad after last season’s relegation scare. The pressure is therefore enormous.
The Forest clash could prove another early test of De Zerbi’s new Tottenham. With Savio doubtful, Maddison battling to recover, Odobert and Simons facing longer absences, and Kulusevski carefully approaching his comeback, Spurs must find solutions quickly.
After spending more than £330 million, Tottenham supporters will be demanding results—and De Zerbi knows that the road ahead could become extremely challenging if the injury problems continue to mount.
