Tottenham face Chelsea with Marmoush, Udogie, Robertson among fresh doubts

Tottenham travel to Chelsea on October 24 with a growing injury list after three players picked up knocks in the win over Coventry. Omar Marmoush, Andy Robertson and Tosin Adarabioyo all went off, while Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro and Lucas Bergvall are also unavailable or doubtful. De Zerbi insists there are "no injuries, nothing important."

  • Match: Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur, Premier League
  • Date: October 24
  • Major doubts: Omar Marmoush (calf), Andy Robertson (knock), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf)
  • Other absentees: Destiny Udogie (knee), Lucas Bergvall (knee), Savio (muscular), Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle)
  • Returning: James Maddison (fit), Dejan Kulusevski (fit after 18 months out)
  • Manager: Roberto De Zerbi

Injury and availability

Tottenham's treatment room is busy before the short trip to Chelsea. Here is the full rundown of who is out, who is doubtful, and when they might return.

Omar Marmoush (calf) — potential return: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)

Marmoush scored against Coventry but went off after pulling up and clutching his calf. He received treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Mathys Tel. De Zerbi said: "No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important." If that holds, Marmoush should be available for Chelsea.

Andy Robertson (knock) — potential return: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)

Robertson pulled up in the second half against Coventry. He tried to carry on for a few minutes but eventually had to go off. De Zerbi again played down the issue: "No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important." Until he trains fully, there is no certainty.

Tosin Adarabioyo (calf) — potential return: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)

Tosin lasted only so long in his first league start before going down at the same time as Robertson. Initial signs suggested a calf issue and he looked upset coming off. De Zerbi remained upbeat: "No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important."

Destiny Udogie (knee) — potential return: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)

Udogie was left out of the squad against Coventry after taking a knock to the knee against Manchester United. De Zerbi explained: "Destiny Udogie played 70 minutes and he suffered a problem in his knee and we didn't take a risk." Spurs are short at left-back, so his fitness is crucial.

Lucas Bergvall (knee) — potential return: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)

Bergvall is expected to miss the derby. De Zerbi said: "Bergvall had a problem in Manchester early on in the first chance he created for Solanke. He felt pain in his knee but felt fine and on Sunday he came to the training ground and he'll be out for two weeks." That points to a return at the end of the month.

Pedro Porro (hamstring) — potential return: October 24 vs Chelsea (A)

Porro is moving in the right direction after a hamstring problem sustained in the 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa. De Zerbi said last week: "Pedro – I think – is not [out] for many games." The player has indicated he is close, and his return to training is a strong sign.

Savio (muscular) — potential return: November 7 vs Leeds (A)

The summer signing suffered a setback after the draw at Manchester United. De Zerbi explained: "Unfortunately, Savio, on Tuesday before leaving for Marbella, felt a muscular problem and we have lost him for some weeks." He is likely to miss Chelsea and remains unavailable until early November.

Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle) — potential return: October 31 vs Crystal Palace (H)

Mudryk's ankle injury, suffered after just one appearance on loan, was described by De Zerbi as "stupid." There has been little update since the initial six-to-eight-week expectation, leaving late October as a possible target rather than a certainty.

Xavi Simons (ACL) — potential return: January

Simons suffered an ACL injury in April and is working his way back. Ball work has resumed, but there is a large gap between that and match readiness. January remains the sensible target.

Wilson Odobert (ACL) — potential return: November

Odobert is slightly closer after tearing the ACL in his left knee in February. His recovery appears to be progressing well and there is optimism he could beat the standard timeline. November is the working target.

What was said

"No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important."

— Roberto De Zerbi on the fresh knocks to Marmoush, Robertson and Tosin

"Destiny Udogie played 70 minutes and he suffered a problem in his knee and we didn't take a risk."

— Roberto De Zerbi on Udogie's absence vs Coventry

"Unfortunately, Savio, on Tuesday before leaving for Marbella, felt a muscular problem and we have lost him for some weeks."

— Roberto De Zerbi on Savio's setback

"Bergvall had a problem in Manchester early on in the first chance he created for Solanke. He felt pain in his knee but felt fine and on Sunday he came to the training ground and he'll be out for two weeks."

— Roberto De Zerbi on Bergvall's injury

"Pedro – I think – is not [out] for many games."

— Roberto De Zerbi on Pedro Porro's hamstring issue

De Zerbi's repeated insistence that there are "no injuries, nothing important" is either genuine reassurance or a manager hoping for the best. The fact he used the same phrase three times suggests a desire to calm external noise rather than a firm medical diagnosis.

His more detailed comments on Bergvall and Savio show he is willing to share timelines when he has them. The lack of detail on Marmoush, Robertson and Tosin is telling: those assessments are likely to be re-evaluated after training.

The numbers

  • 10 players listed as injured or doubtful
  • 2 players returning to fitness: James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski
  • 18 months — Dejan Kulusevski's absence before his comeback vs Coventry
  • 6-8 weeks — initial expected absence for Mykhailo Mudryk's ankle injury
  • 2 weeks — Lucas Bergvall's expected absence
  • 3 fresh concerns from the Coventry game: Marmoush, Robertson, Tosin

Why Tottenham's left side is the real problem for Chelsea

Destiny Udogie's fitness is the single most important unknown. Tottenham are already short at left-back, and if Udogie cannot start at Stamford Bridge, De Zerbi must improvise. The absence of Andy Robertson would compound that, leaving Spurs without both senior left-sided defenders.

Up front, Omar Marmoush has offered more threat than Dominic Solanke recently. If fit, there is a fair argument he should start. His calf problem, sustained while scoring against Coventry, could force De Zerbi to rely on Mathys Tel instead.

Pedro Porro's possible return at right-back would be a welcome boost. In De Zerbi's system, full-backs are asked to do everything, and having Porro back would ease the burden on the defence. Tosin Adarabioyo's calf issue is another concern after his first league start ended early.

Talking points

  • Should De Zerbi start Marmoush over Solanke if both are fit? Marmoush has shown more threat recently, but Solanke offers a different profile. The answer may define Tottenham's attacking approach at Chelsea.
  • Is De Zerbi downplaying injuries to protect his squad? His repeated "no injuries" line after three players went off suggests he is managing expectations. Fans will judge the team sheet at Stamford Bridge.
  • Tottenham's left-back depth is a glaring issue. With Udogie and Robertson doubtful, who plays there? The lack of natural options could force a midfielder or centre-back into an unfamiliar role.
  • Kulusevski's return after 18 months is a massive boost. But can he start a derby so soon? De Zerbi may use him from the bench, especially given the intensity of a London derby.

What happens next

Tottenham travel to Chelsea on October 24. Before then, De Zerbi will assess Marmoush, Robertson, Tosin and Udogie in training. If most are fit, Spurs can approach the derby with a decent hand. If not, De Zerbi will be patching things together against a Chelsea side that will punish any weakness.

Frequently asked questions

Will Omar Marmoush be fit for Tottenham vs Chelsea?

Marmoush went off with a calf issue against Coventry but De Zerbi said there are "no injuries, nothing important". If that assessment holds, he should be available.

Is Destiny Udogie playing against Chelsea?

Udogie missed the Coventry game with a knee problem. His potential return date is listed as October 24 vs Chelsea, but he remains a doubt.

When will Savio return for Tottenham?

Savio is expected to miss the Chelsea game and is likely to remain unavailable until early November, with a potential return on November 7 vs Leeds.

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