This article was updated on 18 September 2026 to clarify Tottenham Hotspur’s squad availability ahead of their opening 2026-27 Premier League fixture away at Brentford. Roberto De Zerbi addressed reporters on the fitness of eight key players, and his answers settle several points that had been unclear.
Updated opening: De Zerbi’s selection picture ahead of Brentford
Spurs begin their league campaign on the road against Brentford, and De Zerbi used his press conference to run through the fitness of the squad in detail. The picture that emerges is mostly positive, with several first-team regulars confirmed as available.
The update comes during a busy summer at the club. Tottenham have already signed six new players and remain in talks over attackers Savinho and Omar Marmoush, part of a wider push covered in our look at this summer’s squad rebuild. Against that backdrop, De Zerbi’s fitness update matters as much for what it says about squad depth as for who plays on the opening weekend.
Dejan Kulusevski continues individual training recovery
Dejan Kulusevski remains some way from a first-team return. De Zerbi confirmed the winger is still working away from the main group, under the guidance of a specialist coach rather than alongside his teammates.
“He’s working, he’s working not with the group, but with the individual coach,” De Zerbi said, describing the Swede’s current programme. The head coach also spoke about the toll the lengthy recovery has taken on Kulusevski personally.
“I’m observing him a lot, because first of all, he suffers too much, and as a human situation, it’s been tough for him, and every one of us we are close with him for this period.”
De Zerbi was clear about the player’s importance once fit, though he stopped short of naming any date for a return. “Then he’s a different player, he’s a special player, if he’s fit and he’s available, he’s a different player like Xavi Simons,” he said, underlining how much Tottenham are missing his creativity in the meantime.
Micky van de Ven and Pape Matar Sarr ruled out
Micky van de Ven will not travel for the Brentford opener. De Zerbi confirmed his absence directly, grouping him with Pedro Porro as players missing from the matchday squad.
“Micky is not on the (available) list for tomorrow, like Pedro Porro and the other players are all inside,” De Zerbi said, meaning van de Ven and Porro are both left out while the remaining named players are included.
Pape Matar Sarr is also missing, though for a different reason. The midfielder felt discomfort in his hamstring two days before the press conference, and the club have opted not to risk him this early in the season.
De Zerbi confirms squad availability for key Tottenham quartet
There was better news elsewhere, with De Zerbi confirming four key names are fit and included for Brentford. James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Destiny Udogie and Mateus Fernandes are all set to be part of the travelling squad.
“James Maddison is inside (the list), Dominic Solanke is inside, Udogie is inside, Mateus Fernandes is inside, Pape Sarr, no because he felt pain two days in his hamstring. Nothing important, but we don’t take risk with him and especially in this moment.”
Solanke’s inclusion is particularly welcome given his role as Tottenham’s central striking option, a subject we examined in our piece on Solanke’s part in the attack. Having Maddison, Udogie and Fernandes all available too gives De Zerbi a fuller hand to pick from as the campaign begins.
Pedro Porro injury status explained
Pedro Porro is not on Tottenham’s available list for the Brentford match. That comes directly from De Zerbi’s own words, despite earlier reports suggesting the full-back was fit and ready to feature.
When De Zerbi said Porro was grouped with van de Ven among the players missing from selection, he was clear that neither man was among those included. Nothing in the head coach’s comments points to a specific injury type or a return date for Porro, so supporters should treat his absence as confirmed for now without reading further into the cause.
What happens next for Tottenham’s opening fixture
With De Zerbi’s update in place, Tottenham’s plans for the trip to Brentford are set. Maddison, Solanke, Udogie and Fernandes travel as part of the squad, while van de Ven, Sarr, Porro and Kulusevski are all unavailable.
The head coach’s comments, delivered in full during his original press conference, leave little ambiguity over selection for the opener. Fans should expect further clarity closer to kick-off if there is any change to Sarr’s precautionary absence, though De Zerbi’s tone suggested the midfielder’s issue is minor and short-term.
For now, the headline takeaway is straightforward: four key players are fit and available, three are ruled out through injury or precaution, and Kulusevski’s longer recovery continues away from the group.
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