Ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's battle against Chelsea, football.london takes a look at who will be missing for both sides in their Premier League clash
Patrick Austen-Hardy Senior Sports Journalist
06:00, 31 Oct 2025
Thomas Frank manager of Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur, EFL Carabao Cup, Fourth Round, Football, St James' Park, Newcastle, UK - 29 Oct 2025
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Thomas Frank will be without a huge number of players for the clash against Chelsea(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea could be missing as many as 15 players between them when they come together in north London.
Thomas Frank's side and Enzo Maresca's team both competed in the Carabao Cup midweek. While Maresca's men progressed into the quarter-finals with a dramatic 4-3 away victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Spurs were dumped out of the competition after a 2-0 away loss to Newcastle United.
However, despite their safe passage into the last eight, where they will face League One side Cardiff City, Maresca was furious with Liam Delap's unnecessary two bookings and subsequent red card in the Midlands. Ahead of the derby this weekend, football.london takes a look at who will be missing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur
Thomas Frank manager of Tottenham Hotspur
Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur, EFL Carabao Cup, Fourth Round, Football, St James' Park, Newcastle, UK - 29 Oct 2025
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Frank has had to deal with an ever-growing injury list(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
Unfortunately for the ex-Brentford manager, Frank will still be missing around 10 first team stars. Archie Gray became the latest Lilywhite to join the injury list, after picking up a calf injury.
He follows Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke on the treatment table. However, Frank did state he expects Guglielmo Vicario to play against Chelsea, after missing the loss to Newcastle.
Initially, it was assumed the Italian was absent for rotation purposes. In his post-match interview, Frank hinted he was injured, saying: "He had a smaller thing that had to be done but he'll be ready for Chelsea."
Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham Hotspur looks on during the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England
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Vicario could be fit to face Chelsea(Image: Getty Images)
Unfortunately for Spurs, Wilson Odobert is also a doubt for the match, after picking up a "side strain" recently.
On the Frenchman, Frank said: "Odobert had a side strain unfortunately, that kept him out for this game. Also we need to assess him, but it could look positive for Chelsea."
There also remains lingering doubts about the fitness of club captain and defensive warrior Cristian Romero, who has not featured in the Premier League since the 2-1 away victory over Leeds United at the start of the month.
Chelsea
Chelsea's Liam Delap (right) reacts after being shown a second yellow card and being sent off during the Carabao Cup fourth round match at Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton. Picture date: Wednesday October 29, 2025
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Delap's red card could be costly for Chelsea(Image: PA)
Maresca's injury list is not quite as long as Tottenham's and Chelsea fans will be relieved. However, he was left enraged by Delap's needless red card against Wolves in the League Cup.
Delap had been missing for several weeks when he came off the bench for his return to football at Molineux. But the summer signing from Ipswich Town got himself sent off with two rash yellow cards, the second of which could have been a straight red card in its own right, in a cameo display described as "embarrassing" by Maresca.
Despite it happening in the League Cup, Delap will be suspended for the away trip to Spurs. This is a huge blow, with the Italian also being without Cole Palmer in the attacking areas.
Javier Garcia/Shutterstock (15504031y)
Cole Palmer of Chelsea
Chelsea v Benfica, UEFA Champions League, Group Stage, Football, Stamford Bridge, London, UK - 30 Sep 2025
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Palmer is still injured(Image: Javier Garcia/Shutterstock)
In defence, his options are also thin with Benoit Badiashile and Levi Colwill both nursing long-term injuries.
Midfield youngster Dario Essugo is also still injured, while Mykhailo Mudryk is still provisionally suspended after being charged by the Football Association in mid-June with anti-doping rule violations.
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In the League Cup, Chelsea were able to make nine changes from the starting eleven which lost to Sunderland, including resting Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. They will be expected to return in north London.
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