Roberto De Zerbi has delivered an update on Mohammed Kudus after he suffered a setback in his return from injury.
Kudus has been out since January with a serious quad injury, but had returned to full team training and was expected to provide a major boost for De Zerbi ahead of the Premier League run-in.
Spurs then announced on Thursday that the Ghanaian had suffered a setback in his recovery and will now require further specialist review and, potentially, surgery.
Kudus looks set to miss Spurs’ final seven games of the season, while his World Cup hopes have also been thrown into doubt.
News of Kudus’ injury comes on the eve of De Zerbi’s first game in charge away to Sunderland this weekend, and the new Spurs boss said: “Kudus was in my head a crucial player, especially for the position, but we have to look forward anyway.
“I think we have a lot of very good attackers and we have to help them, to put them in the best condition to show their qualities, because Kolo Muani, I know he's not playing a great season, but he's a good player.
“I know, like Mathys Tel I wanted him in Marseille, Xavi Simons is a big talent, Richarlison and Solanke you know maybe better than me, and so we have to put them in the best condition we can."
Guglielmo Vicario will also miss out against Sunderland, having undergone surgery on a hernia injury over the international break.
Spurs announced that Vicario’s surgery had been timed to minimise the amount of time he would miss, but the Italian shot-stopper will not travel to the Stadium of Light.
On Vicario, De Zerbi added: “No, Vicario is not ready for this game, I hope he can come back earlier next week, but I don't know yet.”
Pape Matar Sarr will be assessed having suffered a shoulder injury on international duty with Senegal.
The midfielder was pictured in training on Friday, but could be seen wearing what appeared to be a shoulder support on his left shoulder.
Rodrigo Bentancur, however, is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring injury earlier in the year.
“Bentancur is working with us, but not completely, but we have enough to fight, to play and to make points,” De Zerbi added.
