Tottenham Hotspur Faces Injury Woes Ahead of Leeds United Match
Tottenham Hotspur continues to grapple with an extensive injury list as they navigate a crucial relegation battle. Following their 2-1 win over Aston Villa, manager De Zerbi is left with a squad missing key players, relying on determination rather than depth. Here’s the latest injury update from The Standard.
The primary concern is Dominic Solanke, who was taken off before half-time during the Wolves game due to a suspected grade two hamstring injury. Reports indicate that his season may be over. De Zerbi has remained cautious, offering no confirmation on the severity before the Villa match, where Solanke did not play. His availability for upcoming matches against Leeds, Chelsea, and Everton is uncertain, as grade two hamstring injuries generally require three to eight weeks for recovery.
Meanwhile, James Maddison’s situation is also tricky. The attacking midfielder has been included in three successive matchday squads but has yet to take the field. De Zerbi stated he genuinely does not know if Maddison will return this season, as the player is still recovering from a major ACL injury, leaving little room for error in his recovery timeline.
Additional Injury Setbacks
In more bad news, Cristian Romero’s season has come to an end after he suffered a serious knee injury during a collision with Antonin Kinsky in the Sunderland match. De Zerbi confirmed that Romero would not return for the remainder of the campaign, putting his chances for World Cup fitness this summer in jeopardy.
Xavi Simons is sidelined until at least the end of 2026 following confirmation of an ACL tear in his right knee sustained during the Wolves game. The timing is particularly unfortunate, as he had just started to establish himself as De Zerbi’s main creative player, affecting both Tottenham and the Dutch national team.
Rodrigo Bentancur was forced off during the second half at Villa Park, adding yet another concern for the midfield. His availability for the Leeds match remains under evaluation. Guglielmo Vicario, who had surgery for a hernia, may be ready for the Leeds match as the team looks to target this fixture as a potential return date for several players balancing between readiness and caution.