Roberto De Zerbi confirms triple Spurs injury boost ahead of Aston Villa clash

Roberto De Zerbi confirms triple Spurs injury boost ahead of Aston Villa clash Tottenham Injury Update: Sandro Tonali and Pedro Porro Back for Aston Villa Tottenham need points, not excuses. Four league games into the season, they are still waiting for a first win, and Roberto De Zerbi heads into the Aston Villa match with a squad that finally looks a little less stretched. The headline is straightforward. Sandro Tonali is available again after missing the 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool with what De Zerbi had labelled a “minor knock”. Given Tottenham’s careful handling of the midfielder since his club-record £100 million move from Newcastle, there was no appetite to take risks in midweek. Tonali has featured in every Premier League game so far, though full sharpness has remained an ongoing issue. Spurs’ medical staff have been cautious all season with players carrying any injury concern, and that approach has not changed. Tonali and Porro boost for Spurs There is also positive news on Pedro Porro. The vice-captain has missed the past two matches with a muscular problem, but he is now back in contention. De Zerbi offered a clear update when asked about his options, saying: “Porro, Tonali, and [James] Maddison are all available to play. “Normally, we have to understand the situation, but all of them are ready.” That matters because Tottenham have looked short of control and short of rhythm. Porro gives them drive from wide areas, Tonali gives them presence in midfield, and both have been missed. Photo IMAGO James Maddison still building fitness Maddison is available, though there is an obvious caveat. De Zerbi made it clear that training with the squad and being ready to start at Premier League intensity are not the same thing. He said: “Listen, James is working with the team the last 10, 15 days, maybe less than 15 days. And even if he is a technical player, he needs to be fit, to stay in a good condition. “When he arrives to the best condition, it’s very important for us. “As a personality, as a characteristic, as a quality, as an experience. The quality of his passes are different than the others.” No mystery there. Maddison changes the level of Tottenham’s attack when fit. Until then, De Zerbi has to ration him properly. Dejan Kulusevski recovery remains slow There are still absentees. Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain out long term, while Mykhailo Mudryk is sidelined until after the international break with an ankle issue. Dejan Kulusevski is the more complicated case. He has returned to first-team training, but he is still nowhere near match action after a serious and lengthy knee problem. De Zerbi said: “We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, but this is a great thing for us because he is a good player and a good guy. “He deserves to play again and we have to work day by day. “Also for Deki the [international] break is important because when he is at top condition and over the injury, he will be like another new signing.” For now, Tottenham will settle for having more bodies available. The larger challenge is turning that into a first league win.