Spurs Injury Woes: Maddison and Kulusevski Updates

Tottenham finally have a point on the board. They still don’t have a goal.

A goalless draw at Nottingham Forest eased the immediate pressure after back‑to‑back defeats to Brentford and Newcastle, but it underlined an issue that has been growing louder with every game: this team is operating without its No10s, and it shows.

Conor Gallagher grafted, Mateus Fernandes searched for pockets of space, yet the spark never really came at the City Ground. The structure was there. The incision was not.

Savio and Destiny Udogie, both eased back into the side, were withdrawn around the hour mark as part of a pre‑planned, cautious return. No fresh concerns there, at least. The real story sits a little deeper in the treatment room.

Maddison edges closer

James Maddison remains the headline absentee, and his absence continues to shape Tottenham’s attacking identity.

The midfielder damaged his shoulder against Brentford on the opening day, another setback as he works his way back from the ACL injury that wrecked last season. He came off the bench at the Gtech Community Stadium in that game, a carefully managed step in his recovery, but was not risked at Forest.

There is finally some light. Maddison has rejoined full team training, a crucial step that has raised expectations inside the club that he will be back on the pitch soon.

The target is clear: Everton at home on September 12, 2026. For a side starved of invention between the lines, that date cannot come quickly enough.

Kulusevski’s stop‑start return

Dejan Kulusevski is back on the grass, yet not quite back in the fight.

The Sweden international, recovering from a serious patella injury that has ruled him out for almost 18 months, has started training with the group again. His return, though, is being handled with extreme care.

Roberto De Zerbi explained before the Forest game that Kulusevski suffered a minor setback during the week, halting his progress just as he had rejoined sessions.

“Kulusevski started [training] with us at the beginning of the week, and then the last two days, a small, small problem, stopped [him from training],” De Zerbi said. “But I think he’s in a good way. It’s going very well. I already said the medical staff is very high level.

“We can be positive with him. I’m looking forward to having Deki in the squad.”

No firm return date has been set. For now, it remains “unknown” – an unhelpful word for a squad already short of craft.

Xavi Simons out for the year

If Spurs look blunt in the No10 areas, the absence of Xavi Simons is a major reason.

The Dutchman tore his ACL against Wolves in April last season and has been ruled out for the remainder of this year. His ability to drift between lines, receive under pressure and unlock low blocks has been sorely missed.

Simons has still been a visible presence, seen around the squad in a supporting role, but his influence is limited to the dressing room and the training ground. On the pitch, Tottenham know they will have to wait.

The hope is that he returns in early 2027. That feels a long way off for a team already leaning heavily on makeshift solutions in attacking midfield.

Odobert on the comeback trail

Wilson Odobert’s story runs parallel to Simons’, but with a slightly brighter horizon.

The French winger also suffered an ACL tear last season, another blow to the club’s attacking depth. Unlike Simons, though, his recovery is a step ahead.

There is growing optimism that Odobert could feature again before the turn of the year, with a potential return pencilled in for late 2026. For a side craving pace and directness out wide, even that tentative timeline offers a sliver of encouragement.

Tottenham have their first point. The clean sheet at Forest helps. But until their playmakers step back over the white line, every week will feel like a waiting game – and the Premier League rarely waits for anyone.