Tottenham Pre-Season Test Against Getafe: Injury Concerns and Key Players

Tottenham step up their pre-season work this weekend with a behind-closed-doors test against Getafe at Hotspur Way, returning home from a long-haul tour with momentum – and a few nagging worries.

Quiet pitch, loud questions

The stands will be empty, the cameras limited, but this is no throwaway run-out for Roberto De Zerbi. Spurs are four unbeaten this summer and still buzzing from that dramatic 2-1 win over Chelsea in Australia, sealed by Richarlison with virtually the last kick despite Kevin Danso’s red card.

That late winner did more than settle a friendly. It underlined the edge De Zerbi is trying to hardwire into a squad that fell apart physically last season. Tottenham head to Brentford in two weeks. Between now and then, the Italian must decide how hard to push a group still carrying scars and strains.

The balancing act starts here.

Injury cloud over key men

The headline concern remains James Maddison. He has not played a minute of pre-season and is battling a hip problem that leaves his involvement on the opening day in real doubt. Spurs are not dressing it up: he is in a race against time.

Destiny Udogie is in the same boat in terms of minutes – none so far – and the absence of both from these tune‑ups has stripped De Zerbi of two of his primary weapons in possession.

At centre-back, Micky van de Ven is close to signing a new contract, a significant show of faith from club and player. On the grass, though, he has yet to feature since returning from the World Cup. Tottenham want him ready for the grind of a full Premier League campaign, not just a cameo in August.

Up front, Dominic Solanke finally got his first minutes of the summer against Chelsea. That appearance was more than symbolic: Spurs have invested heavily and need him in rhythm quickly. Saturday offers another chance to sharpen his timing and understanding with the new-look attack.

De Zerbi’s caution is not paranoia. Last season’s collapse owed plenty to a treatment room that never seemed to empty. He is determined not to repeat that mistake.

Kudus close, Kulusevski carefully managed

There was a rare burst of good news at Hotspur Way this week. Mohammed Kudus and Dejan Kulusevski, both long-term absentees, were filmed running together in training, a sight that will have pleased both staff and supporters.

Kudus has been sidelined since January with a serious quad injury but is now back working with the main group and edging towards full fitness. Even so, any involvement against Getafe would be a surprise. Spurs know what he can add; they are not about to gamble with him in a closed-door friendly.

Kulusevski’s situation is even more delicate. The Swede has not played for over a year after a patella injury sustained in May 2025. Tottenham are taking no chances. He is not yet in full team training and remains some distance from a competitive return. For now, his progress is measured in steady steps, not dramatic leaps.

Mateus Fernandes offers a more immediate boost. The £85million midfielder has returned to training after a calf issue that kept him out of the last two games and is expected to be in contention on Saturday. De Zerbi will want him on the ball, dictating tempo, building the patterns that will matter when the real points are at stake.

Building a spine before Brentford

The Getafe game, played out away from the noise, gives De Zerbi a chance to edge closer to his Premier League XI. Relationships matter, especially after a heavy summer of spending, and this is the stage where combinations either click or creak.

A likely line-up could see Kinsky in goal, with Gray, Van de Ven, Van Hecke and Robertson across the back. Fernandes and Tonali would form the midfield base, Williams-Barnett and Gallagher providing legs and invention behind the front two of Tel and Solanke.

On paper, that looks close to full strength. On grass, it still needs minutes.

Maddison, Udogie and Kudus remain doubts for this one, and their absence again would underline how much work Spurs still have to cram into a short window.

Quiet rehearsal, big stakes

After Getafe, Tottenham face a double-header against Hoffenheim next weekend before the Premier League curtain rises away to Brentford. The schedule is tight, the margins finer still.

Saturday’s friendly will kick off at 3pm BST on August 8, 2026, at Hotspur Way, with no fanfare and no crowd. Yet for De Zerbi, it might be the most important 90 minutes of the summer.

He knows the football looks promising. The question now is whether the bodies can keep pace.