Tottenham’s Goal Drought Puts Solanke Return in Focus
Dominic Solanke could be ready to start for Tottenham for the first time since April when Spurs host Everton on Saturday evening, with Roberto De Zerbi using the update to challenge his forwards to raise their level. The striker has managed just 114 minutes across all competitions this season, and Spurs have failed to score in any of their first three Premier League games. Given the goal drought, that alone tells you why this update matters more than the usual squad-rotation noise.
De Zerbi indicated Solanke is close to a recall having been named on the bench for the Newcastle and Nottingham Forest games, with the manager suggesting the 28-year-old could start either against Everton or in next Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie at Liverpool, according to the Standard. Solanke hasn’t started a Spurs match since he was withdrawn after 40 minutes of last season’s 1-0 win at Wolves with a hamstring injury, and he then missed the club’s final four fixtures as a recurring ankle problem was managed cautiously. Concerns over jet lag and his patchy injury record kept him out of the early-season picture too, with Spurs’ medical department now overseen by performance director Dan Lewindon – a shift covered in more detail here regarding De Zerbi’s handling of pre-season absences.
An Attack Still Looking for Answers
Spurs remain winless in the league, and the goalless draw with Forest last weekend did little to suggest an imminent turnaround; De Zerbi named the attack as the club’s central issue. Brennan Johnson, Tottenham’s top scorer in 2024/25, left for Crystal Palace in January and is expected to line up for Everton against his old club – the kind of fixture that invites obvious jokes, so we’ll spare you. Spurs are also trying to move on Richarlison, with Brazilian side Vasco da Gama showing serious interest, adding another layer to an attacking reshuffle covered in this piece on the striker’s situation.
De Zerbi’s message to the rest of the group was blunt: the squad has enough to score goals, but players including Mathys Tel, Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray need to show it rather than talk about it, a point that ties into broader questions about his tactical setup explored here.
What Happens Next
Everton at home on Saturday is the first checkpoint for Solanke’s return, with the Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool next Tuesday the fallback date if De Zerbi holds off. Either way, Tottenham need goals from somewhere – and soon.
