Tottenham receive Pedro Porro boost ahead of Aston Villa clash

Tottenham Hotspur will have Pedro Porro available for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa after the defender recovered from a muscular problem.

Porro has missed Tottenham’s past two matches, but manager Roberto De Zerbi confirmed the Spain international’s return following Tuesday’s 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat by Liverpool.

Aston Villa visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, with De Zerbi’s team still looking for their first league goal of the season.

Tottenham’s difficult start has not weakened the manager’s belief in his squad, however, and he expects the team to improve once they find their rhythm.

“I believe in my players, I have a big confidence, a big opinion of my players,” De Zerbi said.

“When we arrive to find the click, to win a game, I think we enjoy with these players.”

The club have also been encouraged by the return of Mohammed Kudus, who made his first start for Tottenham at Anfield after recovering from a long-term quad injury.

The Ghana international’s versatility is particularly valuable to De Zerbi, who believes Kudus can operate as a number 10 as well as in other attacking roles.

“Kudus is another great news for us, because he can play also as a number 10,” De Zerbi said.

“We can play with Savio, Kudus, (Dominic) Solanke and (Omar) Marmoush.”

De Zerbi wants his midfielders and full-backs to contribute in attack, creating the possibility of a Tottenham team featuring up to eight attacking players.

James Maddison could provide another important option once he is fully fit.

The England international has not started a game since May 2025, when he suffered a cruciate ligament injury. He has returned to action with three substitute appearances this season, although his progress has also been affected by a shoulder fracture.

De Zerbi said Maddison’s comeback would have to be managed carefully because of the physical demands of Premier League football.

“Maddison is for sure a different player, a special player,” he said.

“But he has to be fit, he has to be in the right physical condition, because the Premier League intensity, even tonight, is incredible.

“And then we can play with eight attackers.”