Tottenham Hotspur supporters are searching for any good news they can find right now. With 11 matches remaining, Spurs are currently a mere four points above the Premier League's relegation zone, without a win in nine attempts in 2026. So, could the potential return of Pedro Porro on Sunday help Igor Tudor pick up his first points as manager?
Among the numerous problems facing the Lilywhites right at this moment, the most crippling is their enormous list of unavailable players:
Tottenham's current injured and suspended players
Players | Last appearance | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Cristian Romero | 7 February | Suspended |
Destiny Udogie | 7 February | Hamstring |
Kevin Danso | 28 January | Toe |
Ben Davies | 17 January | Ankle |
Pedro Porro | 24 January | Hamstring |
Rodrigo Bentancur | 7 January | Hamstring |
Lucas Bergvall | 20 January | Ankle |
Dejan Kuluševski | 11 May | Knee |
James Maddison | 3 August | ACL |
Wilson Odobert | 10 Februry | Knee |
Mohammed Kudus | 4 January | Thigh |
A total of 11 senior outfield players sat out last Sunday's North London derby defeat. Cristian Romero still has two more matches to go on his suspension; he can return at Anfield on 15 March. Meanwhile, Richarlison came off the bench against Arsenal, having missed the previous seven fixtures due to a hamstring injury sustained in the FA Cup.
However, could the imminent return of Pedro Porro be a genuine game changer?
Pedro Porro's importance to Tottenham
After last weekend's loss, Tudor confirmed he hoped to have two players available for this Sunday's crucial clash with Fulham, one of which is believed to be Pedro Porro. In the absence of the Spaniard, as well as Romero, Kevin Danso, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie, the new head coach was forced to deploy a makeshift back five.
João Palhinha as a centre-back and Archie Gray at right-wing-back just isn't going to work, so could Porro's reintroduction into the team be transformative?
Pedro Porro's 2025/26 statistics
Statistics | Pedro Porro | Spurs rank |
|---|---|---|
Minutes | 2,785 | 3rd |
Shots | 34 | 4th |
Assists | 5 | 2nd |
Crosses | 221 | 1st |
Big chances created | 7 | 2nd |
Key passes per 90 | 1.5 | 1st |
Interceptions | 31 | 3rd |
Tackles won | 42 | 2nd |
Clearances per 90 | 3 | 3rd |
Average match rating | 7.11 | 2nd |
Note: Stats via Transfermarkt, FBref & SofaScore.
Micky van de Ven is the only outfielder to have played more minutes than Porro this season, while he also ranks highly for a wide-variety of numbers. The right-back is second only to Mohammed Kudus when it comes to assists, as well as second for big chances created and first in terms of key passes per match.
Porro also ranks highly when it comes to every defensive metric, namely tackles, interceptions and clearances, emphasising that he is key at both ends of the pitch. Assuming Tudor sticks with his favoured back three formation, which seems likely, the 26 year old will be vital in adding balance to the right flank that Gray was simply not able to offer during the derby defeat.
Right now, Spurs make scoring a goal feel impossible, while are simultaneously conceding them far too easily at the other end, shipping 17 goals across their last seven Premier League outings. That is very much a recipe for disaster which could see the Lilywhites' 48-year stay in the top division catastrophically come to an end. The only way they're going to get out of this hole is by injury players coming back, so Tudor really needs Porro's return to be a catalyst for change.