Roberto De Zerbi’s secret weapon emerges just in time for Tottenham | Football | Sport

Roberto De Zerbi may have just received Tottenham’s trump card in their Premier League survival battle. Spurs sit just a single point and a considerable goal difference from the bottom three, and could find themselves dragged into the relegation zone should they fall to Sunderland this weekend.

Spurs are yet to register a victory in the English top flight this calendar year, so the Italian, who has been handed the task of keeping them up, will be desperate to claim all three points at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. To make matters worse for Tottenham, West Ham have the chance to heap further pressure on their rivals.

The Hammers can set the tempo on Friday evening when they travel to Molineux to face Wolves. Even if Tottenham concede ground in the scramble for survival, they are expected to welcome several high-profile names back to the matchday squad before the season concludes – among them Mohammed Kudus.

The 25-year-old winger, who picked up a hamstring injury in January, is set to be back in action later this month. Kudus has been spotted in first-team training ahead of Tottenham’s fixture against the Black Cats.

While his return to the matchday squad would represent a significant boost, Igor Tudor previously indicated that the Ghana international would not be fit until the end of April, when Spurs travel to face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday, April 25.

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The former interim boss appeared to suggest a 10-day return timeframe for Kudus, from the first day back after the international break. That would see him miss fixtures against Sunderland and Brighton.

However, it remains unclear exactly when Kudus will be available, and De Zerbi is expected to provide clarity when he addresses the media on Friday afternoon. When the Italian deems the moment right, he’ll be playing his trump card.

The Ghanaian, whom Tottenham acquired from West Ham for £55m in the summer, made a superb start to life in north London, netting one goal and registering five assists in his opening seven Premier League appearances. Kudus had propelled Spurs into third position.

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Even when the forward sustained a hamstring injury during the draw with Sunderland, he left Spurs just a handful of points from mid-table safety. Kudus was the beacon of hope for Tottenham, and it’s no coincidence that Tottenham plummeted into a relegation scrap in his absence.

According to Statmuse, despite having spent the past three months injured, only three players have managed to complete more successful dribbles in the Premier League this season than Kudus (51). Jeremy Doku (59) leads the rankings, followed by Yankuba Minteh (55) and Iliman Ndiaye (54).

The Tottenham winger will undoubtedly emerge as a pivotal figure for De Zerbi during the run-in. During his first interview as Spurs manager last week, he set out his immediate vision for Kudus and the rest of the squad.

“I love keeping the ball,” De Zerbi said. “I love possession, I love great chances to score, but at the same time, I love 11 defenders when we have not the ball, because in this time of football, we have to attack with 11 players, with the goalkeeper as well, and we have to defend with 11 players when the ball is not for us.

“In this moment, we have no time to work too much on more principles, but we have to know what we have to do on the pitch. We have to have a good organisation, with the ball, without the ball.

“We have to consider the qualities of the players. We are lucky – I am lucky – because I have big players with big talent and my work is to help the players to show their qualities.”