Tottenham Hotspur have been hit hard by injuries this season—arguably even worse than in previous campaigns. Key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski are still sidelined, while Dominic Solanke has only just returned after a lengthy absence. The midfield has also been weakened by the losses of Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall, and Wilson Odobert is out for the rest of the season. However, the long-term injury to Mohammed Kudus has arguably been the biggest setback of all.
One player whose reliability has been heavily affected by recurring fitness issues is left-back Destiny Udogie. His frequent absences have underlined both his importance to the team and the difficulty in depending on him consistently. His latest setback, a second hamstring injury, has kept him out since early February, costing him several matches.
There had been hope that Udogie might return in time to face Liverpool, but that has not materialized. Still, manager Igor Tudor has offered a more encouraging update, confirming that the defender is close to full fitness and should be ready for the upcoming clash against Nottingham Forest.
That fixture is crucial for both sides. Tottenham currently sit just one point above Nottingham Forest and West Ham United in the relegation battle, making it a must-win encounter—especially after last weekend’s disappointing 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Having Udogie back in time for the March 22 showdown could be a major boost. He offers strong ball progression and is defensively more reliable than Djed Spence, while Tudor has yet to fully trust Souza in that role. As a result, Udogie remains Spurs’ most dependable option at left-back.
His return could also allow for a promising partnership on the left side with Mathys Tel. Although fans have only seen glimpses of that combination this season, it has shown enough potential to suggest it could make a real difference for Tottenham during a difficult 2025/26 Premier League campaign.
