Injury Update: Van Hecke, Van de Ven available for United match, Porro out

After three weeks, Tottenham Hotspur are finally set to play another football match, this time away at United. But while the long international break has given Roberto De Zerbi time to work more with his players and his players time to heal from whatever early season niggles or injuries they’ve had, Spurs’ playing squad is still very much a work in progress.

In good news, in his pre-match press conference, the first in three weeks, De Zerbi said that both of his Dutch starting defenders, Jan Paul van Hecke and Micky van de Ven, are available to play despite both having injury scares while with the Netherlands national team. Van Hecke had his foot stepped on while Micky injured his hand. Both opted to return to North London to rehabilitate, and both are now expected to feature at Old Trafford. De Zerbi also dropped the news that Van Hecke’s partner recently delivered twins! Mazel tov!

“They are available to play. Micky played four games, 90 minutes and JP just three games. The difference is this. JP yesterday, wife had twins and emotional aspect we have to consider but he’s available.”

“They are available to play. Micky played four games, 90 minutes and JP just three games. The difference is this. JP yesterday, wife had twins and emotional aspect we have to consider but he’s available.”

If you had hopes that you might see Dejan Kulusevski on the bench for Spurs, you’ll have to wait a little longer. Deki, the subject of a profile in the Daily Mail yesterday, will join the team for the trip to Manchester, but will be there “for support” as opposed to a playing role. Kulusevski, who has missed the past 17 months with a patella injury, is reportedly close to a return, but the team is still handling his recovery extremely carefully to forestall any potential setbacks.

“[Dejan] is working well. Tomorrow he comes with us for support. He is working very well and I think he is an example for everyone. Forget the player but the example of how he reacted to the injury, the character he showed this time was an example and reference to everyone.”

“[Dejan] is working well. Tomorrow he comes with us for support. He is working very well and I think he is an example for everyone. Forget the player but the example of how he reacted to the injury, the character he showed this time was an example and reference to everyone.”

Elsewhere, James Maddison is available, but likely not ready to start, and there’s still some question as to whether we will see him tomorrow. Maddison apparently missed some training time last week due to an undisclosed issue, with the suggestion that Spurs might again see Conor Gallagher at the 10 vs. United.

“He’s available but he lost 3-4 days at the end of last week and start of this. James is a special player for us. Gallagher, as a 10, also he’s playing well.We’re both frustrated because he wants to be on the pitch. Not a big injury and tomorrow he can play but the Premier League is tough and you need to be fit and in the right condition to run and fight. He is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete 3/4/5 weeks in a row without feeling pain and problems and then he’s a normal player.

“[James and I are both frustrated], because he is a good guy, he suffered to stay not on the pitch, to have the injury. Now it was not a big injury. Tomorrow he can play, but the Premier League is tough.

“Physically it is a very strong competition and you have to be in the right physical condition to compete, to run, to fight. He is a number 10, a different player, but I think he is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete three, four, five weeks in a row without problems, without feeling pain, without feeling problems. And then he is a normal player, he has nothing special, bad.”

“He’s available but he lost 3-4 days at the end of last week and start of this. James is a special player for us. Gallagher, as a 10, also he’s playing well.We’re both frustrated because he wants to be on the pitch. Not a big injury and tomorrow he can play but the Premier League is tough and you need to be fit and in the right condition to run and fight. He is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete 3/4/5 weeks in a row without feeling pain and problems and then he’s a normal player.

“[James and I are both frustrated], because he is a good guy, he suffered to stay not on the pitch, to have the injury. Now it was not a big injury. Tomorrow he can play, but the Premier League is tough.

“Physically it is a very strong competition and you have to be in the right physical condition to compete, to run, to fight. He is a number 10, a different player, but I think he is working well and this is the way. The way is to complete three, four, five weeks in a row without problems, without feeling pain, without feeling problems. And then he is a normal player, he has nothing special, bad.”

De Zerbi also confirmed that both Pedro Porro, who sustained a hamstring injury in Spurs’ last game forcing him to with draw from the Spain squad for the international break, and Mykhailo Mudryk are still recovering from injuries and will not feature on Saturday. It did seem, however, that Pedro will not be out for much longer.

“Maddison the same problem and Porro, Pedro and Mudryk both are not available. Pedro I think not for much time, many games and for Mudryk maybe something more.

“Maddison the same problem and Porro, Pedro and Mudryk both are not available. Pedro I think not for much time, many games and for Mudryk maybe something more.

Tottenham kick off under the lights tomorrow vs. Manchester United at 12:30 p.m. ET, 5:30 p.m. UK.