Igor Tudor is hoping for timely injury returns as Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a crucial relegation clash against Nottingham Forest this weekend.
Spurs head into Sunday’s fixture in a precarious position, sitting just one point above both Forest and West Ham United, with the latter currently inside the relegation zone of the Premier League.
Despite their league struggles, Tottenham have shown signs of resilience in recent days, earning a draw away at Liverpool before securing a morale-boosting 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid in midweek, although they were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League on aggregate.
Speaking ahead of the high-stakes encounter, Tudor expressed optimism that injured players could return sooner than expected.
“We hope the medical staff will make us some nice surprises in the next weeks which would be very important to have,” he said.
The Spurs boss revealed that creative midfielder James Maddison, who has missed the entire season with a knee injury, is making encouraging progress and could return before the end of the campaign.
“He is already doing interesting things — with the ball and sprinting. I saw him, he is positive,” Tudor noted.
Winger Mohammed Kudus is also expected to be available after the March international break, while Rodrigo Bentancur continues his recovery.
Tudor may also have Dominic Solanke back in contention after a minor hip issue kept him out of the midweek win, while Joao Palhinha has returned to training following concussion protocols.
Meanwhile, Forest come into the match after a demanding midweek schedule, having played 120 minutes before advancing to the Europa League quarter-finals via a penalty shootout win over FC Midtjylland.
However, Tudor dismissed suggestions that fatigue could give Spurs an advantage.
“The coach managed it well so the players that started did not play more than 60 minutes, so there will not be an advantage,” he said.
Off the pitch, Spurs supporters are rallying behind the team with a fan-led campaign dubbed “Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up,” aimed at creating a vibrant atmosphere at the stadium.
Tudor admitted he was moved by the unity between players and fans during the Atletico match.
“It was a beautiful sensation, a feeling of togetherness with the fans. Very rare. We need to continue this all together,” he said.
In a further update, the club confirmed that goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario will undergo hernia surgery next week, with the timing planned to minimize disruption to the remainder of the season.
With survival on the line, Sunday’s clash could prove pivotal in shaping Tottenham’s Premier League fate.
