Tottenham will be without Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario and Pape Matar Sarr for Saturday’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while James Maddison travels but is unlikely to play. Roberto De Zerbi faces fresh selection headaches as Spurs cling to Premier League safety, with Udogie’s recurring muscular issues posing a long-term dilemma for the club ahead of an important run of fixtures.
Team news: who’s missing for Wolves
Roberto De Zerbi confirmed three absences for the Molineux clash: left-back Destiny Udogie, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and midfielder Pape Matar Sarr. James Maddison was included in the matchday squad but is expected only as a bench presence after a long-term anterior cruciate ligament layoff.
Udogie’s latest setback
Udogie, who has struggled with hamstring problems this season, will not travel. De Zerbi indicated the left-back could be fit for the trip to Aston Villa next week, but the recurrence highlights a wider reliability issue. Losing Udogie strips Spurs of one of their most dynamic outlets on the left and forces pragmatic, less fluid options into the side.
Vicario and Sarr
Vicario underwent a hernia operation during the international break and is now on a recovery timeline that should see him back in training early next week rather than available at Molineux. Sarr remains sidelined with a shoulder complaint and has not recovered in time to feature.
Maddison’s role: leader, not yet match-ready
Maddison’s inclusion on the bench is a managerial signal as much as a tactical one. De Zerbi called him a positive dressing-room presence — valuable for morale — but stressed the midfielder still feels pain and is not ready to influence games regularly after his ACL recovery.
Tactical implications and squad depth
With Udogie absent, Spurs will rely on cover such as Spence and the club’s younger options. Those deputies offer defensive solidity but lack Udogie’s natural inverted runs and attacking thrust, meaning Spurs’ left-side combinations will likely be more conservative. Vicario’s absence forces a goalkeeper rotation that can unsettle defensive cohesion, while Sarr’s shoulder problem reduces midfield physicality and screening ability.
Why this matters
Spurs occupy a precarious position in the table, and these absences come at a time when consistency is essential. The club’s tactical identity under De Zerbi—fluid full-back rotations and midfield control—relies on certain profiles that are now missing. Short-term results may be impacted; longer-term squad planning is even more urgent.
Personnel questions heading into the summer
Udogie’s pattern of injuries presents a genuine dilemma. At his best he offers elite attacking value from full-back, but chronic muscle problems and a history of limited campaign appearances lower his reliability. The club must weigh the cost of retention against the need for dependable options in that position when planning for next season.
What Spurs can do now
In the immediate term De Zerbi will tinker with personnel and shape to compensate for the left flank and midfield absences. Over the summer, recruitment and a clear medical assessment of Udogie should be priorities. Restoring Maddison to full fitness will also be central to Spurs’ ambitions of steadying their run.
Outlook: next fixtures and stakes
A trip to Wolverhampton is a sensitive fixture given Spurs’ form and the narrow margin to safety. If De Zerbi can steady the squad and gain results without key players, it will buy time and credibility for his project.
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Conversely, continued injury setbacks would amplify pressure on recruitment and squad management decisions as the season closes.
Theathleticuk
