Tottenham injury latest as De Zerbi shares two boosts but one star out | Football | Sport
Roberto De Zerbi has delivered an upbeat injury update on Rodrigo Bentancur ahead of Tottenham Hotspur’s crucial weekend showdown against Brighton and Hove Albion. Speaking to journalists at Hotspur Way on Friday, De Zerbi confirmed that Bentancur will return to the matchday squad on Saturday.
The Uruguayan international has been sidelined since January with a hamstring problem, but has been back in training alongside his teammates in recent weeks. De Zerbi also confirmed that Yves Bissouma is fit and available, though the fixture comes too early for Guglielmo Vicario, who underwent hernia surgery during the international break.
“Bentancur is available to play,” De Zerbi told the media. “I don’t know if he’ll start the game or not. Bissouma is available, but Vicario, no. [Antonin] Kinsky played very well in Sunderland, but Vicario is another important player for us, big experience, character and personality.”
De Zerbi also spoke about Cristian Romero, whose season has ended prematurely following a knee injury sustained at Sunderland last weekend after Brian Brobbey pushed him into Antonin Kinsky. The Italian said: “Romero, I’m really sorry for him and his injury.
“First of all, non-stop, the people have to know he’s suffering because of this injury and because he can’t play anymore for us in this season. He’s a great captain for us and for Tottenham. We have to be positive, we have Radu Dragusin and Kevin Danso, they are very good to play and give us quality with the ball.”
Alongside Romero and Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Ben Davies, and Mohammed Kudus are all set to miss the fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Regarding Maddison, who has returned to training pitches as he continues his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained last summer, De Zerbi commented: “There are a lot of different types of leaders.
“Real leader who talks inside the dressing room. Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball, but also as a personality, mentality on the pitch.
“I would like to reach this level for Micky van de Ven, Palhinha is a leader, Bentancur, I would like to push with Solanke, he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League. I want him stronger as a character on the pitch.
“I don’t want to push too much, as we lost Kudus in this way. I will use the players when they are totally available to play and start the training; it’s better to lose one game more than get another injury.”
