Roberto De Zerbi reveals Sandro Tonali injury latest in new four-man Tottenham update | OneFootball

Pedro Porro and James Maddison are fit, while Dejan Kulusevski faces a crucial international break

Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Sandro Tonali is available again as Tottenham look to end their winless start to the Premier League season at home to Aston Villa.

The Italian midfielder has struggled for full fitness since Spurs parted with a club record £100million to sign him from Newcastle, and the club’s medical team have this season been applying extra caution to players at risk of injury.

Vice-captain Pedro Porro is aslo available for selection again after missing the last two games with a muscular issue. De Zerbi confirmed in his post-Liverpool press conference that Porro was back fit and will be in contention for minutes against Aston Villa.

Asked for an update on Tottenham’s squad, De Zerbi said: “Porro, Tonali, and [James] Maddison are all available to play.

“Normally, we have to understand the situation, but all of them are ready."

Asked if Maddison could start, De Zerbi 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."

Spurs remain without long-term absentees Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert, while Mykhailo Mudryk is out until after the international break with an ankle injury.

Dejan Kulusevski, meanwhile, is still out of contention for minutes despite returning to first-team training this week.

The Swedish playmaker has not played a competitive game for Spurs for nearly a year and a half due to a complicated knee injury.

Kulusevski had returned to team training two weeks ago, but was forced to stop after suffering what De Zerbi described as a “small problem”.

The 26-year-old is back in training, but a return to the pitch is still considered a long way off.

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.”