Tottenham Hit by Another Major Injury Blow as Mykhailo Mudryk Faces Two Months Out
Tottenham Hotspur have been hit by another major setback at the worst possible time, with new signing Mykhailo Mudryk reportedly facing up to two months on the sidelines after suffering an ankle injury in training.
The timing of the injury could hardly be more frustrating for Roberto De Zerbi. Mudryk had only just begun to take his first steps back into Premier League football, making his Tottenham debut during Saturday’s goalless draw away at Nottingham Forest.
The Ukrainian winger entered the match as a 74th-minute substitute, marking his first competitive Premier League appearance in almost two years. After a lengthy and difficult period away from the game, there had been genuine excitement around Mudryk finally getting the opportunity to rebuild his career in North London.
Instead, that momentum has now been brutally interrupted.
Mudryk joined Tottenham on loan from Chelsea on deadline day, with De Zerbi hoping the winger could provide much-needed pace, directness and creativity in attack. Spurs have struggled to find an attacking spark during the opening stages of the campaign, making Mudryk’s arrival particularly important.
The 25-year-old was already expected to need patience before reaching his best level. De Zerbi had warned that Mudryk would need time to regain his rhythm and match sharpness after his long absence.
Now, the Italian manager faces another headache.
A potential two-month absence means Mudryk could miss a significant portion of the season just as Tottenham desperately need attacking options to step forward.
The situation is even more worrying when the wider injury crisis at Spurs is considered.
Tottenham have already lost Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert to serious knee injuries, with neither player expected to return before the end of the year. Both were viewed as important attacking options, and their absence has already placed additional pressure on De Zerbi.
Richarlison has also been left out of Tottenham’s Premier League squad after asking to leave the club during the summer, further reducing the manager’s choices.
Then there is Mikey Moore.
The teenage winger was sent on loan to Cologne after Mudryk arrived on deadline day, meaning Tottenham have effectively lost another potential attacking option from their immediate squad.
The situation leaves De Zerbi having to constantly reshuffle his attacking plans.
There is at least some positive news regarding Dejan Kulusevski. The Sweden international is reportedly getting closer to a return after more than a year away because of a knee injury. Sweden boss Graham Potter has described Kulusevski as “very close,” raising hopes that the winger could soon provide a much-needed boost.
James Maddison is another player working his way back from a serious knee injury, although his recovery has not been straightforward. The midfielder has not started a match since before Kulusevski’s injury and also suffered a shoulder problem after coming off the bench against Brentford on the opening day.
For De Zerbi, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep his attacking options healthy.
And with Tottenham still searching for their first Premier League goal of the campaign, the timing could not be more concerning.
Against Everton, De Zerbi is likely to have to rely heavily on the players who remain available. Dominic Solanke, Omar Marmoush, Mathys Tel, Savinho and Mohamed Kudus could all be considered for attacking roles.
But there is now even greater pressure on those players to deliver.
Mudryk’s arrival had offered Spurs supporters hope that Tottenham could add another explosive dimension to their attack. His speed and ability to carry the ball could have given De Zerbi another weapon as he attempts to transform the team.
Instead, Tottenham have been handed yet another frustrating injury blow.
After two difficult opening matches and a goalless start in the Premier League, Spurs cannot afford too many more setbacks.
Mudryk was only beginning his Tottenham journey. Now, the club must wait again.
For De Zerbi, the message is clear: Tottenham’s attacking problems are becoming an emergency, and finding solutions quickly could be crucial to determining how the rest of the season unfolds.
