Pedro Porro's Return Boosts Spurs' Attacking Vision
Tottenham will have Pedro Porro back in the side for a game that already feels heavy with consequence. Aston Villa visit north London on Saturday lunchtime, and Spurs, still searching for their first Premier League goal of the season, are clinging to the belief that the dam will eventually burst.
Porro, sidelined for the last two matches with what the club described as a muscular issue, has been cleared to return. Roberto de Zerbi delivered the update in the aftermath of Tuesday night’s 3-1 Carabao Cup third-round defeat at Liverpool, a result that sharpened the focus on Tottenham’s blunt edge in front of goal.
The Italian, though, is not blinking.
“I believe in my players, I have a big confidence, a big opinion of my players,” he said, insisting that once his team “find the click” and win that first game, they will “enjoy with these players.” The message was clear: the plan is not changing, even if the early-season numbers make for uneasy reading.
Kudus returns to the front line
One major reason for De Zerbi’s optimism is the sight of Mohammed Kudus back in a Tottenham starting XI. The Ghanaian made his first start since January at Anfield, having spent months recovering from a long-term quad injury.
Kudus did not ease his way in. He pressed, he drove at defenders, he looked like a player determined to make up for lost time. De Zerbi’s reaction said plenty about how central he sees the forward to Spurs’ attacking identity.
“Kudus is another (who is) great news for us, because he can play also as a number 10,” the head coach said, already sketching out the shapes in his mind. “We can play with Savio, Kudus, (Dominic) Solanke and (Omar) Marmoush.”
That is not a throwaway line. It is a blueprint. De Zerbi wants layers of threat, movement between the lines, runners from all angles. With Kudus fit, the combinations multiply.
Eight attackers and no apologies
De Zerbi then pushed the idea even further. Factor in his adventurous full-backs and attack-minded midfielders, and he believes Spurs can, in effect, line up with “eight attackers”.
It is not just a philosophy; it is a challenge to his squad. If Tottenham are going to play on the front foot, they must match that ambition with execution. So far in the league, the goals have not followed. The head coach is betting that the returning firepower will change that.
Which brings the conversation to James Maddison.
The England international has endured a brutal spell on the sidelines. He has not started a match since May 2025 after suffering a cruciate ligament tear, and his comeback has been further complicated by a shoulder fracture. This season he has been limited to three substitute appearances, each one a reminder of what Spurs have been missing between midfield and attack.
“Maddison is for sure a different player, a special player,” De Zerbi said. The admiration is obvious, but so is the caveat. “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.”
The line landed like a manifesto. Maddison as the creative fulcrum, Kudus floating between the lines, Porro flying from deep, a front line stacked with options such as Savio, Solanke and Marmoush. It sounds thrilling on paper. It will demand ruthless finishing on the pitch.
Villa arrive as awkward opponents for a side still waiting to celebrate a league goal. Yet De Zerbi is doubling down, not backing off. With Porro cleared, Kudus building rhythm and Maddison edging towards full sharpness, Spurs are loading the attack.
Now they have to prove that this many forwards can do more than just look dangerous on the teamsheet.
