Roberto De Zerbi could be boosted by the return of Dominic Solanke from injury for Tottenham’s relegation showdown against Everton.
The result of Sunday’s game could have a huge bearing on the Lilywhites’ long-term trajectory, with Spurs staring at the possibility of not being in the top-flight for the first time since 1978.
Given how much is riding on the game, one would expect De Zerbi to risk some of his key men even if they are not 100 per cent fit.
Djed Spence is expected to play with a protective face mask despite breaking his jaw in the 2-1 loss to Chelsea, and it has now been suggested that one more key man could return for the Lilywhites.
Dominic Solanke could return from injury for Tottenham against Everton
Dominic Solanke has missed Spurs’ last three matches after picking up a hamstring injury during their 1-0 win at Wolves.
De Zerbi admitted ahead of the clash against Chelsea that he does not want to risk Solanke for the London derby, but added that he retains hope that the striker could be available for Sunday.
The Spurs boss then revealed on Friday that Solanke is available for Tottenham vs Everton, although it remains to be seen whether he can start.
However, none of Tottenham’s other six injured players are expected to be available for selection on Sunday.
| Injured player | Injury | Potential Return |
| Wilson Odobert | Knee | November 2026 |
| Dejan Kulusevski | Knee | July 2026 |
| Mohammed Kudus | Quad | June 2026 |
| Ben Davies | Ankle | June 2026 |
| Cristian Romero | Knee | June 2026 |
| Xavi Simons | Knee | 2027 |
Could De Zerbi hand James Maddison a start against Everton?
James Maddison has come on as a substitute in Tottenham’s last two games against Leeds and Chelsea, and he has made a big impact in both matches.
The Spurs attacking midfielder admitted that he was desperate to come on at 1-0 at Stamford Bridge after De Zerbi waited until the 68th minute to bring him on, with his side trailing 2-0 at the time.
The Tottenham boss revealed that the medical department does not want Maddison playing more than 20 or 25 minutes at this stage of his recovery.
However, he may be tempted to risk starting the former Leicester man against Everton, given what is at stake for the club.
When asked about it in his press conference, De Zerbi said: “James Maddison is available. It’s always tough to decide before the game how many minutes he can play. Of course, he’s a different player, a top player for us, but we have to analyse the physical condition with this Italian weather.”