Tottenham receive a timely boost before Palace
Tottenham have James Maddison and Destiny Udogie available for Saturday’s match against Crystal Palace, giving manager Roberto De Zerbi two returning options for Gameweek 9. Maddison was forced off last weekend with a groin problem, while Udogie has been out with a knee injury. Their availability broadens De Zerbi’s choices, but it doesn’t tell us whether either player is ready to start or how many minutes they can manage.
That distinction matters in fantasy football, where “available” can cover anything from a place in the starting eleven to a limited role off the bench. A player returning from injury may be fit to join the squad while still needing a cautious workload, especially after missing training. De Zerbi’s comments point to Maddison being selectable, though his disrupted week leaves some uncertainty around his match sharpness.
“James is available. This week, Maddison didn’t work like other players, but for tomorrow he is available. He is a special player for us because he has unique characteristics.” – Roberto De Zerbi
De Zerbi’s praise highlights why Maddison’s return matters beyond the simple addition of another name to the squad. A player with distinctive creative qualities can give a side different ways to progress the ball and create chances, particularly when opponents limit the more familiar routes forward. Still, the manager’s description of Maddison’s training week is a reminder that selection and expected output are separate questions.
Udogie returns, with a fitness caveat
Udogie is also back, though De Zerbi said injuries have made it difficult for the defender to train consistently. The issue is not only that he has missed time with a knee problem; the manager describes a wider pattern of interrupted preparation. That makes his return useful for Tottenham’s options while leaving a question over how reliably he can build rhythm from week to week.
For a defender, training continuity can affect more than match fitness. It helps a player rehearse positioning, coordination with teammates and the timing of forward runs. A return to availability is encouraging, but it doesn’t erase the uncertainty created by a stop-start spell.
“[Udogie] is available. He is another problematic player in terms of injuries because he can’t work consistently during the weeks. After Manchester United, he didn’t work with us with the group for a long time.” – Roberto De Zerbi
This is more significant than it looks for managers weighing up Tottenham players: both returns add depth, but neither announcement guarantees a full 90 minutes. If you're working through a fantasy selection, the sensible read is to treat the news as a change in availability and wait for stronger evidence about starting roles where possible. The detail that matters most may be how De Zerbi uses them once the match begins (and this is the part most people overlook).
Six players remain unavailable
Lucas Bergvall (knee), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Savio (muscle), Mykhailo Mudryk (ankle), Xavi Simons (knee) and Wilson Odobert (knee) are out. Rodrigo Bentancur is suspended. The absences span several positions, limiting the manager’s choices across the squad and making the return of Maddison and Udogie more relevant to team balance.
Injury lists also need careful reading: the source gives diagnoses for several players but no return timetable, and it doesn’t describe the severity of each problem. That leaves little basis for predicting when the unavailable players might be back. Bentancur’s suspension is a separate kind of absence, with a clearer immediate explanation but no bearing on the injury picture.
“Still out: Tosin, Bergvall, Mudryk. Savio is injured. Everyone else [bar Bentancur, long-term absentees Simons and Odobert] is available.” – Roberto De Zerbi
The wording of De Zerbi’s update groups several players together, but the practical message is straightforward: the six named players are unavailable, Bentancur is suspended, and Maddison and Udogie can be considered for selection. The quote also describes Simons and Odobert as long-term absentees without offering a schedule for their return. For readers, that means the list can inform this weekend’s expectations, but it can’t settle longer-range planning.
What the update means for Gameweek 9
Tottenham’s squad picture has improved in two places, yet the update leaves the central selection questions open. Maddison’s limited training and Udogie’s interrupted work make their status less straightforward than a clean return after a completed week with the group. De Zerbi’s comments are useful because they clarify who is available; they’re less useful as a guide to minutes, starting positions or likely fantasy returns.
That said, having both players back gives the manager more options against Crystal Palace at a point when several teammates remain unavailable. The effect will depend on whether either returnee starts and how much they can contribute. A welcome boost. The full Gameweek 9 picture, including other clubs’ availability updates, is linked below.
For the full Gameweek 9 team news, see press conference updates.
