Roberto De Zerbi confirms Tottenham injury boost in three-player update ahead of Aston Villa

Roberto De Zerbi has spoken to the press ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash against Aston Villa.

Roberto De Zerbi has confirmed that Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and James Maddison will be available for selection when Tottenham Hotspur hosts Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.

Porro suffered a 'small muscular problem' last week, sidelining him from the goalless draw to Everton in the Premier League, as well as the defeat to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup third round. Tonali also missed the clash against Andoni Iraola's side, having sustained a knock.

Maddison, however, featured off the bench at Anfield on Tuesday night, replacing Conor Gallagher in the final quarter of an hour. Speaking to reporters at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, De Zerbi announced that the trio will be available for selection this weekend.

The Lilywhites boss said: "Porro, Tonali and Maddison all available to play. As normal, we have to understand them in terms of physical condition."

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De Zerbi also provided an update on Dejan Kulusevski, who returned to first-team training this week. The Italian said: "We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, but this is a great thing for us because he is a good player and a good guy.

The Spurs midfielder suffered a complicated knee injury back in May 2025, and he has not featured since. De Zerbi added: "He deserves to play again, and we have to work day by day.

"Also for Deki, it is important the national break because when he is at top condition and over the injury, he will be like another new signing."

De Zerbi was also quizzed on Luca Williams-Barnett and his role in the Tottenham squad. The 17-year-old attacking midfielder hasn't featured for Spurs since coming off the bench in the final quarter of an hour of the Carabao Cup second round last month.

Many expected Williams-Barnett to be given another chance to impress when the Lilywhites faced Liverpool in the third round of the competition on Tuesday night, but he wasn't even named in the matchday squad.

"I have a big consideration because he's a good player and a potential big player," said De Zerbi. "We have to understand when is the best situation for him and the team also.

"It's a different job to manage a young player, especially when they have the potential to be a top player. You can't put them in a bad condition, but you also can't forget about them.

"I didn't forget about Luca, and I didn't forget about Malachi, but it's about the right moment."

Then, when how his players have reacted to the defeat in Merseyside, De Zerbi said: "Yes, for sure. You can see after the second goal with Gakpo we showed a great reaction.

"We deserved another goal. You can see at the start of the Liverpool game we created two big chances to score. The reaction has been good."