Pedro Porro is back for Tottenham Hotspur's trip to Chelsea on Saturday night, but James Maddison is a doubt after missing training this week, Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed.
De Zerbi delivered a ten-player update at his pre-match press conference on Friday, and the headline was a triple boost for a Spurs squad that has been stretched all season. Porro, Andy Robertson and Omar Marmoush are all available for the London derby at Stamford Bridge, as football.london reported from the press conference.
Porro returns at just the right time
Porro has been sidelined since picking up a knock in the 3-2 defeat by Aston Villa on September 19, but the Spain international has returned to training and is in line to make his comeback on Saturday. "Pedro is back," De Zerbi said — three words that will lift a back line that has had to improvise for more than a month.
There was more good news on Robertson and Marmoush, who both appeared to pick up injuries during Monday's 3-1 win over Coventry. De Zerbi revealed neither problem was serious and both are fit to face the Blues, while Dominic Solanke is also available: "Robertson is available. Marmoush is good. Solanke is good."
The Maddison dilemma
The one cloud is James Maddison. Handed his first start of the season against Coventry, his former club, Maddison stole the show with a first-half thunderbolt — but he did not train for the first three days after the game, and De Zerbi admitted he might not be risked at Stamford Bridge. "In the first three days Maddison didn't work with us. I don't know if he is available for tomorrow. We can play with Tel, with Marmoush, with Gallagher," the Spurs boss said, as Spurs Web also reported.
Dejan Kulusevski could also be protected. The Swede finally returned against Coventry after more than 500 days out with a knee injury, and De Zerbi stressed he does not want to take risks with either playmaker, pointing to the wave of injuries across European football this season. Kulusevski worked well on his return but spent the first days of the week training individually.
Who is still missing
The absentee list remains long. Lucas Bergvall and Savio are out, Destiny Udogie is still sidelined with a knee problem, and Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. Mykhailo Mudryk, Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons also remain unavailable, so De Zerbi will lean heavily on the players who delivered on Monday — including Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus, who has two Premier League assists this season and created Maddison's opener against Coventry.
So what does it mean?
Spurs travel to a Chelsea side sitting fourth under Xabi Alonso and fresh from a 2-0 win at Everton — although the Blues have problems of their own, with captain Reece James ruled out for the rest of the year after knee surgery. Monday's win lifted the mood in north London, but a Saturday night derby at Stamford Bridge is a far sterner test, and Porro's attacking thrust from right-back could be Spurs' best route at a Chelsea left side missing its captain.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Porro's return is the headline, but the Maddison call defines this game. Without him, Tottenham lose their one reliable lock-picker and become a side built on transitions; with a half-fit Maddison, they risk losing him for far longer than one derby. De Zerbi should hold his nerve, start Conor Gallagher, and keep Maddison for the final half-hour if the game needs changing. Would you risk Maddison from the start at Stamford Bridge?
