Tonali in contention for Villa as Kulusevski takes slower route back
Tottenham have been handed a welcome fitness boost ahead of Aston Villa, with Sandro Tonali and Dejan Kulusevski both spotted back in first-team training. Tonali’s swift recovery from a knock puts him in contention to feature, while Kulusevski’s return is likely to be handled far more cautiously.
The pair rejoining the main group gives Roberto De Zerbi a materially improved set of selection options going into a fixture that already carries plenty of weight for his side.
Two different roads back
Tonali missed Tottenham’s recent match against Liverpool after picking up a knock, but according to The Standard, his recovery has been quick enough to put him back in the frame for Villa. That’s the good version of an injury story: short absence, minimal fuss, back in the squad photo within days.
Kulusevski’s situation is different. He’s returned to training following a longer spell on the sidelines, a process this site has been tracking in detail, but medical staff are expected to take a cautious approach rather than throwing him straight back into the XI.
Why it matters for De Zerbi
Since his move from Newcastle, Tonali has started every single game under De Zerbi, which tells you exactly how central he’s become to how this Tottenham side is meant to function. Losing him, even briefly, is the kind of thing that shows up in a team’s shape rather than just the team sheet – and his prospective return to the midfield build-up structure is worth more than the headline suggests.
Kulusevski, once properly up to speed, adds the kind of creativity and attacking versatility Tottenham have missed. None of this arrives in a vacuum, either – De Zerbi is under increasing scrutiny after an inconsistent start to the season, despite the club backing him heavily in the summer window. A result against Villa would ease some of that pressure, at least for a week.
What happens next
Expect Tonali to be involved against Villa given how quickly he’s recovered. Kulusevski is a different matter – eased back rather than rushed, with his effect on the team likely to be felt in the weeks after this fixture rather than within it.
