Tottenham Injury Blow: Mudryk to Miss Everton, Liverpool, Aston Villa

Tottenham confirm Mykhailo Mudryk out for weeks with training injury

Mykhailo Mudryk has sustained an injury in training and will be sidelined for several weeks, ruling him out of Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League fixtures against Everton, Liverpool and Aston Villa. The summer loan signing from Chelsea had only recently returned from a doping suspension.

Player: Mykhailo Mudryk (Tottenham Hotspur, on loan from Chelsea)
Injury: Sustained in training, set to miss several weeks
Games missed: Everton, Liverpool, Aston Villa
Potential return: After the international break
Cover options: Mathys Tel, Savio, Mohammed Kudus

Injury and availability

Tottenham's attacking options are stretched following the news that Mykhailo Mudryk picked up an injury in training. The Ukrainian winger joined Spurs on loan from Chelsea on deadline day and is yet to feature in a competitive match since being cleared to play again.

Mudryk was found guilty of breaching doping rules and served a suspension of around two years. He has now been cleared to return to football, but this fresh setback means Tottenham will be without him for the upcoming fixtures.

With Dejan Kulusevski already out injured for more than a year and Wilson Odobert struggling with a serious knee issue, Roberto De Zerbi's side are light on the left wing. Mathys Tel is expected to provide cover, while new signing Savio could also fill in on the left, allowing Mohammed Kudus to operate on the opposite flank.

Deal details

Mudryk joined Tottenham on loan from Chelsea on deadline day after the club failed to land primary left-wing targets Iliman Ndiaye and Cody Gakpo. Gakpo decided to stay at Liverpool, while Ndiaye opted to join Manchester City. Spurs turned to Mudryk once those moves collapsed.

Squad context

Tottenham finished 17th in each of the last two Premier League campaigns. The club spent heavily this summer to help Roberto De Zerbi rebuild the squad, strengthening midfield and defence while also signing Martin Dubravka to support Antonin Kinsky after allowing Guglielmo Vicario to join Juventus.

Further reinforcements arrived in Omar Marmoush and Savio, both signed from Manchester City to bolster the striker and right-wing positions respectively. Despite those additions, the failure to secure Ndiaye or Gakpo left Spurs short on the left, prompting the deadline-day loan for Mudryk.

Why Mudryk's absence is a real problem for De Zerbi

Losing Mykhailo Mudryk before he has even kicked a competitive ball for the club is a significant blow for Roberto De Zerbi. The Italian was clearly banking on the wide man to add pace and unpredictability on the left — an area that has been a problem all summer. With Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert long-term absentees, Mudryk was seen as the solution, albeit a temporary one. Now De Zerbi must revert to his fallback options.

Mathys Tel is the most natural replacement. The Frenchman is still very young and needs time to reach his full potential. He showed glimpses of his qualities during pre-season but hasn't been able to replicate that form this season. Thrusting him into a run of games against Everton, Liverpool and Aston Villa carries risk, but Spurs have little choice.

Alternatively, Savio can provide cover on the left flank. The Brazilian joined from Manchester City as a right-winger, but De Zerbi could use him on the left and deploy Mohammed Kudus on the opposite side. The Ghanaian has returned to full fitness after remaining sidelined throughout the second half of last campaign. He showcased promising performances last term after joining from West Ham United, and his availability is a timely boost.

Talking points

Should Tottenham have signed a permanent left-winger instead of relying on a loan for Mudryk, given his doping history and injury record?
Is Mathys Tel ready to start consistently in the Premier League, or will De Zerbi be forced to play Savio out of position?
Did Spurs mishandle the summer window by missing out on both Iliman Ndiaye and Cody Gakpo?
With Kulusevski and Odobert also injured, does De Zerbi need to change formation to protect his depleted squad?

What happens next

Mudryk will miss Tottenham's Premier League fixtures against Everton, Liverpool and Aston Villa. The club will assess his recovery over the coming weeks, with a return after the international break the target. In the meantime, De Zerbi must find a winning formula on the left flank to keep Spurs competitive after two 17th-place finishes.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mykhailo Mudryk injured?

Yes. Mudryk sustained an injury in training and is set to remain sidelined for several weeks. He is unlikely to return until after the international break.