LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 29, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 29: Pedro Porro of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on August 29, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
Porro and Udogie both started in Spurs’ goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest last weekend.
But for Everton’s visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, both players have failed to make Spurs’ matchday squad with Archie Gray and Andy Robertson starting in defence.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, De Zerbi insisted that Spurs would take a cautious approach over Porro’s availability.
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‘Pedro Porro felt a small muscular problem, we have to see tomorrow if he’s available or not but in this moment I don’t want to take any risks. The same [with] Udogie,’ De Zerbi said.
‘Pedro Porro and Udogie are similar players because one, Pedro played a World Cup, a long World Cup and we already knew after the World Cup it could be a difficult management for him.
‘For Udogie, last season [he] suffered many injuries, he played 60 minutes in Nottingham and we have to manage also Destiny in the best way we can.’
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Dean Henderson
Dean Henderson
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team???s second goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Joao Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring his team???s second goal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Chelsea FC and Hull City at Stamford Bridge on September 12, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)