Tottenham have taken another setback at the worst possible time, with Roberto De Zerbi facing fresh injury worries after Saturday’s defeat at Leeds United. The loss ended a three-game Premier League winning run, but the bigger concern came late on, when Mathys Tel was forced off after Leeds defender Jayden Bogle caught him with his studs around the Achilles of his left foot. Bogle escaped even a yellow card despite a VAR review, and replays appeared to show how serious the contact was. Tel was later seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot and on crutches.
Tel tried to play on at first but eventually signalled to the bench that he couldn’t continue, and Dominic Solanke replaced him. De Zerbi called it a bad injury but gave no diagnosis, saying only that the medical staff would assess it and the club would know more in the coming days. Even apparently minor Achilles damage can need careful rehabilitation, so a serious problem could mean a long layoff. His return date is unknown, and losing another forward would be an unwelcome complication for a side still short of consistency in attack.
James Maddison has not played since he was injured in the win over Chelsea last month, and he missed out again at Leeds despite being back in some training. De Zerbi said he thought about bringing Maddison on late but decided against it because he had done only limited work during the week, and he felt Luca Williams-Barnett was a better fit for the wide attacking role at that point. It suggests Spurs are being careful not to risk his recovery, though the team badly needs his creativity against well-organised defences. A fortnight of uninterrupted training could be decisive, and the target is the home game against Ipswich on Saturday, November 21.
Savio is closer to a comeback. He has been recovering from a muscle injury picked up against Manchester United and trained with the squad before the weekend, but De Zerbi kept him out of the matchday group, so he will use the international break to continue his rehabilitation. His pace and directness would give Spurs something they have sometimes lacked in wide areas, and the manager will want to avoid rushing him back and risking a setback. He could return against Ipswich on November 21.
Tosin Adarabioyo has been out since a calf injury suffered after his first start of the season, in the win over Coventry. He returned to first-team training shortly before the Leeds game but was not considered ready, which is sensible given how recently he rejoined the group and how little Spurs can afford a relapse. His experience and physical presence would help the defensive organisation and give De Zerbi more flexibility, and the break should give him time to regain match fitness, although no return date has been confirmed.
Lucas Bergvall has missed the last four games with a knock, and his initial recovery estimate of about two weeks has been overrun. Sweden left him out of their latest squad, so he can focus fully on getting fit instead of travelling. His energy, movement and ability to carry the ball would help in midfield and allow more rotation, and if all goes to plan he could be back for Ipswich on November 21.
Mykhailo Mudryk, the summer loan signing from Chelsea, has made just one appearance since arriving, as an ankle injury in training in September has kept him out. De Zerbi called it a stupid injury and first suggested six to eight weeks, which pointed to a return around the end of October, but that has been pushed back and he is now aiming for a comeback after the November international break. His pace and acceleration could add something different in attack, although he will need time to build fitness and will probably be introduced cautiously, with late November the likely return window.
The most interesting news concerns Xavi Simons, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament against Wolves in April and was originally expected to be out until early 2027. He is reportedly in the final stages of rehabilitation and could rejoin first-team training this month, and he has already shared footage of himself working on the grass. Training is not the same as match readiness and Spurs have no reason to rush him, but a December return would be ahead of schedule and would give De Zerbi a creative option who can play behind the striker or drift wide. Overall, the break could shape the next few weeks. Savio, Bergvall and Tosin are progressing, Mudryk is nearing his return window and Simons may be back sooner than hoped, yet everyone is waiting on one answer: just how serious is Tel’s Achilles injury, and could the challenge at Elland Road leave De Zerbi without him for the rest of the year?
