Tottenham: Mohammed Kudus 'can start' against Liverpool as Roberto De Zerbi issues new fitness update | OneFootball

Kudus has not started a game since January

Roberto De Zerbi has revealed that Mohammed Kudus is ready to start his first game in eight months as Tottenham prepare to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup third round.

Kudus has been eased back to fitness after missing the second half of last season with a serious quad injury.

He was given 27 minutes off the bench as Spurs drew 0-0 at home to Everton over the weekend, and De Zerbi says that, despite being short of full-match fitness, the Ghanaian is ready to start at Anfield.

“Kudus can start, because in terms of physical condition he's better,” De Zerbi said.

Ready to start: Mohammed Kudus

Spurs’ injury issues have shown no signs of relenting this season, and they will be without Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali against Liverpool.

De Zerbi also admitted that James Maddison will not be fit enough to start, despite returning from a shoulder fracture against Everton over the weekend.

The club’s revamped medical department have been cautious with Maddison and striker Dominic Solanke, who both missed extended periods through injury last season.

Solanke started his first Premier League game since April in the draw with Everton, but De Zerbi said he would continue to be careful with the 29-year-old.

“I spoke with him and I would like to manage him in the best way I can. In physical aspect and in mental aspect, because he's a sensitive guy, he needs to feel full confidence and from myself he has big, big confidence,” De Zerbi continued.

“I believe he can score 10-15 goals for sure. He's already scored in Bournemouth and why not he can score in Tottenham. It's the same sport, different stadium, no pressure, because in our stadium if we push, if we play well, the fans are with us.

“And like all other stadiums, if you lose or if you don't score, you can receive criticism, but it's normal part, it's normal situation in football. And Dominic is crucial for us. Like Savio, like Maddison, like the attackers.

“The attackers are capable to give us quality, because we need qualities, we need talent, we need individual skills, individual qualities.”

Kudus can start, because in terms of physical condition he's better

Roberto De Zerbi

Pressed on whether he had described Solanke, who struggled on his return to the starting lineup, as sensitive to criticism, De Zerbi refuted those claims and said it was a reflection of his intelligence.

Solanke has struggled with a string of ankle and hamstring injuries in the last year, and De Zerbi said his “sensitive” comments stemmed from the mental obstacles Solanke has had to overcome as he has battled to get fit.

“No, no, no. Sensitive because he’s a smart guy. Sensitive guys are smart. One not smart is impossible to be sensitive.

“Maybe many injuries, maybe he doesn’t feel in the best physical condition. Maybe he would like to do something different on the pitch.

“But now he’s not fit yet. His physical condition is good, but he has to play.

“Tomorrow I would like to play part of the game. I don’t know if at the beginning or at the end, but one part of the game. It can be important for him. And then I think he comes back the player who was in Bournemouth.

“I remember Brighton-Bournemouth in the Amex Stadium, he was incredible. I said to my assistant, ‘Who is this striker?’

“My challenge is to help him and to put him in the right condition to score. Better assistance, for sure, improvement in his physical condition and then the striker we already have in the squad.”