Tottenham Hotspur injury update casts a pall on Tottenham’s season
Tottenham’s problems continue to pile up and the feeling at Tottenham is that the injury list has become a storyline rather than a footnote to results. The defeat at Nottingham Forest capped what looked like a solid week and the impact was felt both in the treatment room and on the pitch. With key players still unavailable and the timeline stretching further into the new year, the latest injuries highlight the fragility the squad remains.
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Randall Kolo Muani shook off a few niggles against Slavia Prague and Nottingham Forest, but otherwise there wasn’t much going on. Several absentees are still weeks away from playing, others are progressing very cautiously, and one senior figure now faces a long-term absence that will reshape the season ahead. For Tottenham, the injury situation continues to dictate the mood of the team.
Destiny Udogie out for new year
Destiny Udogie’s absence has quietly become one of the more damaging blows. The left-back will not feature again until the end of 2025 after sustaining a hamstring injury, depriving Spurs of one of their most dynamic outlets on the wing.
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Frank suggested in early December that the setback would not be too serious after Udoji missed the game against Brentford. Asked how long the defender would be out, he said: “It won’t be too long. Unfortunately he picked up a soft tissue injury against Newcastle.” That optimism was quickly dashed.
A few days later, Frank revised it, confirming a longer recovery period. “Destiny picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the Newcastle game, so unfortunately he will be out until January.” For Spurs, the loss is more than just a fitness issue, as Udoji’s energy and aggression will be difficult to replicate.
Potential return date: January 2026
Dominic Solanke’s recovery carefully managed
Dominic Solanke’s case remains one of the more sensitive. The striker is now training alone on the grass following ankle surgery, which is a step forward but is still far from a full recovery. He has been sidelined since late August and underwent surgery in October, which was described at the time as minor surgery. Four months on, the cautious tone has not changed.
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Solanke briefly sparked hopes last week when he posted a photo of himself in a Tottenham shirt on Instagram with the caption hourglass. That hinted at momentum, but Frank quickly tempered expectations.
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“When he’s fully training with the team, I’ll say something… He’s training on his own [on the grass]”. Frank later added: “Sometimes things are not so easy and straightforward, maybe it’s a small setback, maybe it’s moving a little slower.
“Without getting too boring and talking about details, the point is that now it’s more positive and I look forward to him showing up on the training ground and being involved in the team.”
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Patience seems inevitable for Spurs, with no firm date yet and the striker now being dropped from the Champions League squad.
Potential return date: Unknown
People who are chronically absent from work are closer to
Radu Dragusin has made more significant progress as he nears the final stages of his long road back from a serious knee injury. The defender has accelerated his return in recent weeks and has featured in games behind closed doors since January.
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Dragusin played the full 65 minutes against Dagenham and Redbridge after playing the full 45 minutes against Leyton Orient last month. After that appearance, he said: “It feels good, the first minute after 10 months, the last few minutes in the leg, I have to build on that.” Spurs hope those minutes can quickly translate into first-team involvement.
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Potential return date: January 2026
Dejan Kulusevski is also still making his way back. The playmaker has been sidelined since the end of last season with a patellar injury but returned to the grass during last month’s international break. Frank has previously stated that Kulusevski is likely to return before the end of 2025, but any return will be handled with caution.
Potential return date: January 2026
Uncertainty remains, conduct in-depth testing
Further down the roster, some franchise players still face uncertainty. Kota Takai is yet to make his Spurs debut since joining from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer. He started the first half of the Under-21s’ game against Dagenham alongside Dragusin, but was still not ready for the first team.
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“First of all, I’m happy that I finished the game without injury,” Takai said. “Now I want to work hard for my first-team debut.”
Potential return date: Unknown
Yves Bissouma has not played at all this season. He was stretchered off shortly after returning to Mali for international duty after missing the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons. Surgery followed and Frank suffered ankle ligament damage confirmed in October.
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Potential return date: Unknown
In the long run, James Madison’s absence had the most serious consequences. The midfielder suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in pre-season with Newcastle United, underwent surgery and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025/26 season. The blow reshaped Tottenham’s creative outlook.
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Possible return date: Summer 2026
Judging from the current situation, Tottenham is still waiting for relief. The injury list remains long, the timetable is uncertain and the impact cannot be ignored. Managing recovery has become as important as managing matches these days, with the latest updates offering more of a reminder than a guarantee.
