Tottenham injury update: Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski return dates latest

Tottenham’s week swung sharply from optimism to crisis after their heavy defeat at Nottingham Forest, and their injury situation continues to mirror the inconsistency on the pitch. While Randal Kolo Muani was passed fit last week, the broader picture remains unchanged: Spurs are still missing several key first-team players, with timelines uncertain and depth stretched as the festive schedule intensifies.

Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma and James Maddison all remain sidelined, leaving Thomas Frank increasingly short of continuity and reliable options.

Here is the latest Tottenham injury news and projected return dates.

Udogie will not feature again in 2025 after suffering a hamstring injury during the closing stages of the Newcastle match. The left-back had already been dealing with soft-tissue concerns earlier in December, and a second update from Frank confirmed the setback was worse than initially feared.

“Destiny picked up a hamstring injury… he’s out until January,” Frank said.

A January return is possible, but Spurs will manage him cautiously given the physical demands of Frank’s system.

Potential return date: January 2026

Solanke has resumed individual training on grass as he recovers from ankle surgery, but speculation over a quick comeback was cooled by Frank. Solanke posted an hourglass emoji on Instagram last week, hinting at progress, but the head coach urged patience.

“When he is training fully with the team, that is when I will say something,” Frank insisted.

The striker has been sidelined since August, and although improvements have been made, Spurs cannot yet confirm when he will be available.

Potential return date: Unknown

Dragusin is edging closer to a long-awaited return after stepping up his recovery in behind-closed-doors friendlies. The defender played 45 minutes vs Leyton Orient and 65 minutes vs Dagenham & Redbridge, marking his first action since a serious knee injury in January.

“It felt good… finally minutes in the legs,” Dragusin said.

Potential return date: January 2026

Kulusevski, out since the end of last season with a patella injury, is also back on grass and building fitness. Frank believes there is a “good chance” the playmaker returns before the end of the year, though Spurs will avoid rushing him.

Potential return date: January 2026

Takai joined Dragusin in U21 action last week, completing 45 minutes. The summer signing has yet to debut for the first team and remains a longer-term project.

Potential return date: Unknown

Bissouma has not played for Spurs this season. After missing the Super Cup for disciplinary reasons, he suffered ankle ligament damage on international duty with Mali and subsequently underwent surgery.

Potential return date: Unknown

Maddison remains a long-term absentee after ACL surgery and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025/26 campaign.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

From our perspective covering Spurs this season, the injury list is no longer simply unfortunate — it is foundational to the inconsistency on the pitch. Frank’s tactical model relies on wide-area athleticism, quick ball circulation and aggressive pressing triggers. Without Udogie, Kulusevski and Solanke those mechanisms fall apart.

Although some argue injuries cannot excuse the scale of the performance at Forest, it’s worth questioning how many Premier League teams could endure this volume of simultaneous absences without structural drop-off. Spurs’ spine is fractured, their rotations thin, and their reliance on young starters is becoming excessive.

Unless key players return on schedule in January, Spurs may need to reassess both short-term expectations and transfer-window priorities.

Tottenham play Liverpool at home next in the Premier League as pressure intensifies. Whether Solanke or Kulusevski can accelerate their returns may determine how Spurs navigate the final weeks of 2025.

👉 Spurs fans — which return will have the biggest impact: Solanke, Kulusevski or Udogie?