James Maddison and Destiny Udogie were nowhere to be found on the pitch for Spurs’ 2-0 pre-season win over Auckland, with manager Roberto De Zerbi confirming their absence was all about precaution. Seriously, you gotta wonder what’s going on here when key guys are already sidelined before the real games even start.
Injury Woes Already Piling Up
Let’s be real, seeing Maddison not play in a friendly is a gut punch, even if it’s just a precaution. The man just made it back to the field at the end of last season after being out for an entire year with a knee injury. A *year*. That’s a long time to be off your feet, and it’s clear the club is playing it super safe, maybe even a little too safe, with his health right now. It means the stakes are already high for his comeback to stick.
Then there’s Udogie, who’s been battling “persistent injury issues” at Spurs. De Zerbi didn’t pull any punches, saying Udogie hasn’t been working for the last five days. He tried to downplay it, “they have not a big problem, just to stay focused, don’t take any risks,” but you don’t keep guys out of games if there’s no problem, right? It sounds like they’re walking on eggshells with both these guys, and you can bet that’s got the whole squad thinking about who’s actually gonna be ready when it counts.
Young Talent and Future Uncertainty
Despite those worries, Spurs still handled business, snagging a 2-0 victory against Auckland in New Zealand. Dane Scarlett and Richarlison got the goals, which is always good to see. But the real intrigue might be around Mikey Moore. The kid, who spent last season on loan at Rangers, actually started the game and played just over an hour. You love to see young talent get a shot!
But then De Zerbi was asked about Moore’s future, and his answer was far from a ringing endorsement. “We have to see,” he said, talking about analyzing the “last part of the transfer market” and trying to “bring wingers.” Yikes. That sounds like Moore’s future isn’t exactly set in stone, and the club might be looking elsewhere. It’s a tough spot for a young player to be in, wondering if he’s got a spot or if he’s just auditioning.
So, what’s next? De Zerbi mentioned they might play Tonali and “other players” in the next friendly against Sydney. It sounds like they’re still figuring things out, especially with two key players like Maddison and Udogie needing extreme caution. Every minute on the field, every tactical adjustment, it all matters right now as they try to get this squad locked and loaded.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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