Evening Standard
·12 September 2026
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·12 September 2026
James Maddison is back but Spurs missing Mykhailo Mudryk for several weeks
James Maddison is available for selection as Tottenham host Everton in the Premier League this afternoon.
Maddison is back in training as he steps up his recovery from a shoulder fracture suffered on the opening weekend of the season against Brentford.
The 29-year-old will continue to be carefully managed as part of the club’s new medical advice, and De Zerbi would not clarify if he was ready to start.
“Maddison, yes (he will be back),” Spurs boss De Zerbi said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Asked if Maddison could start, he added: “I’m happy when all my players are available. It is maybe a problem for me because my decisions are not easy. But I want to manage all players together.”
Maddison missed the majority of last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and was used sparingly throughout pre-season this summer.
Mykhailo Mudryk is expected to be out for between six to eight weeks after sustaining a blow to his left ankle in training this week.
Welcome return: James Maddison is available as Tottenham prepare to face Everton in the Premier League
Getty
De Zerbi lamented the injury as “stupid”, owing to the innocuous nature of the incident, which is set to keep Mudryk out until after the international break.
The Ukrainian winger had been working his way back to full fitness, having not played a competitive match in nearly two years before his cameo off the bench against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
De Zerbi has also revealed that both Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie are doubtful with “small muscular problems”, so a late decision will be made regarding the pair as the Italian has vowed to not take any risks.
Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert remain long-term absentees, while Dejan Kulusevski is continuing to struggle with a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.
Kulusevski returned to full team training last week before suffering what De Zerbi described as a minor issue.
The Swedish playmaker has not played in nearly a year-and-a-half, and De Zerbi revealed that the 26-year-old is yet to return to team training.


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