Tottenham start their Premier League campaign away to Brentford on Saturday evening at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Roberto De Zerbi's side have spent £237million on new players this summer, but the real test comes this weekend with a tricky opening game in store.
After successive 17th-place finishes, Spurs are determined to embark on a new era under the Italian. Familiar injury issues, though, continue to hamper their preparation for the new season.
Injury concerns ahead of opener
Micky van de Ven, who recently signed a bumper new contract, did not play at all during pre-season after returning from extended leave following the World Cup. It is unclear what is wrong with the Dutch international, but he was not pictured in training on Tuesday.
There was some positive news, with Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Mateus Fernandes all training ahead of Spurs' trip across the capital. Udogie, though, remains a doubt, having not played during pre-season as De Zerbi carefully manages his minutes after a succession of muscular issues.
Maddison, who is in contention to be named club captain after the departure of Cristian Romero, is another player seeing his minutes managed. The England midfielder is still working his way back to full fitness after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of last season. Although he has been pictured in training, his involvement against Brentford is also in doubt.
Solanke and Fernandes among doubts
Striker Dominic Solanke is another doubt for the weekend, having been used sparingly in pre-season. The 28-year-old missed the majority of last season with a recurring ankle injury and was absent from the relegation run-in due to a hamstring problem.
Summer arrival Fernandes, signed from West Ham for £85million, has been struggling with a calf issue since linking up with Spurs on their pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia. It is hoped he will be available for selection, but De Zerbi has so far opted to be cautious with Spurs' injured players so as to avoid a repeat of last season's injury crisis.
That means winger Mohammed Kudus, who has returned to training but has not played a single minute since January, is unlikely to be risked as he continues his recovery from a serious quad injury. Without Kudus in the team, De Zerbi may hand Mikey Moore an opportunity on the right wing.
Moore's future and other absentees
Moore is expected to leave Spurs on loan but not until they can bring in their own attacking targets. Their drawn-out pursuit of Savinho has dragged on all summer, and Spurs appear no closer to an agreement with Manchester City for the Brazilian winger, leaving Moore in limbo.
There are also slight concerns that World Cup winner Pedro Porro may not yet be ready, having only recently returned to training. The Spanish right-back is not carrying an injury but is potentially lacking sharpness and match fitness heading into this weekend.
Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Dejan Kulusevski remain long-term absentees.
Tottenham predicted XI: Kinsky; Gray, Van Hecke, Senesi, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison
Injured: Simons, Odobert, Kulusevski
Doubts: Maddison, Solanke, Porro, Fernandes, Udogie, Kudus
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium
Date and time: 5.30pm BST on Saturday, August 22, 2026
How to watch: Sky Sports
