Ghana star Mohammed Kudus left behind as Tottenham name pre-season tour squad

Tottenham Hotspur have opted not to include Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus in their squad for the club’s pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia as he continues his recovery from a long-term injury.

New head coach Roberto De Zerbi has selected a 35-man travelling party following Spurs’ 1-0 victory over MK Dons on Wednesday, but Kudus is among the notable absentees. The decision allows the Black Stars playmaker to remain in England and focus on his rehabilitation rather than rushing his return ahead of the new campaign.

Kudus has been sidelined since January and is still working his way back to full fitness. The club is taking a cautious approach with the 25-year-old as he continues his recovery before rejoining first-team activities.

Kulusevski also misses out

Kudus is not the only high-profile absentee from the tour, with Swedish winger Dejan Kulusevski also left behind as he continues recovering from a serious knee injury.

Kulusevski has been out for around 14 months after undergoing surgery, making his absence expected as Tottenham manage his long-term recovery.

The North London side will also travel without Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons, both of whom are recovering from cruciate ligament injuries. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has also been ruled out of the trip after picking up a minor injury.

New signings handed chance to impress

Despite the injury setbacks, De Zerbi will have the opportunity to closely assess several of Tottenham’s summer arrivals during the tour.

New recruits Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka have all been included in the travelling squad and are expected to feature as the Italian coach continues shaping his team ahead of the new season.

Meanwhile, defender Marcos Senesi has been granted additional time off following his involvement with Argentina at the FIFA World Cup.

Tottenham’s pre-season tour is expected to provide De Zerbi with an early opportunity to evaluate his squad, but Kudus’ absence means the Ghana international’s return to competitive action will have to wait until he completes the next stage of his recovery.