Tottenham: Robero De Zerbi reveals when Mykhailo Mudryk could make his Tottenham debut | OneFootball

Chelsea loanee could be seen in Spurs colours sooner rather than later

Roberto De Zerbi has said that Mykhailo Mudryk is in contention to make his Tottenham debut against Nottingham Forest this weekend.

Spurs swooped to sign Mudryk on loan on transfer deadline day, with a £75million option to buy next summer, after failing to find the back of the net in either of their first two league games.

The 25-year-old winger was included in Spurs’ Premier League squad this week but has not played a competitive match since November 2024, having only returned from a doping ban in July.

Mudryk had initially been handed the maximum four-year ban by the FA after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.

But after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the FA confirmed in July that the case had been resolved and Mudryk could return to action immediately.

After his ban was lifted, Mudryk flew out and featured for Chelsea as they rounded off their pre-season tour of Australia and Asia.

The Ukrainian is still working his way back to full match fitness, but is ready to face Forest on Saturday.

"He needs time to be able to start,” De Zerbi said in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon

“One part of the game, I think he's ready right now to play 20, 15, 30 minutes.”

While manager of Brighton, De Zerbi tipped Mudryk, whom he worked with at Shakhtar Donetsk, to win the Ballon d’Or.

On those comments, De Zerbi sought to downplay his prediction and said it was important not to put too much pressure on his former protege.

“We spent a very particular season together in Shakhtar. When the war started, we were together. When I spoke about the Ballon d'Or, I was very clear. Maybe my English is not so good, but I was very clear because I was speaking about the potential of the player.

“The potential of the player can be the same and can respect the prediction or not. Until now, he has had many problems. The last problem, the suspension of what was the problem.”

“But in the end, the potential is clear, and now his challenge is to respect all his qualities. Because he's a great player.

“He has to feel this season, to live this season in the right way. Not too much pressure, but it's the right moment for him to show all people things.

“Because if Chelsea paid 100 million four years ago. I think they brought in a lot of big players. And to spend 100 million, I think they thought very well about the qualities of Mudryk.”