Tottenham have another problem, and this one matters. Pedro Porro has pulled out of Spain duty after suffering an injury in the 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa, adding fresh concern to a side already short on rhythm, points and fit players.
Porro went down early in the game with what looked like a hamstring issue. He received treatment on the pitch, tried to continue, then came off in the 19th minute with Archie Gray replacing him. The reaction told its own story. He looked frustrated, hit the turf in anger and limped off with help from the medical staff.
For Tottenham, this is awkward timing. For Porro, it is worse. He had only just returned to regular action after an extended summer break following Spain’s World Cup success in North America. The Villa match was only his third start of the season, which underlines the bigger issue here, fitness management and recurring setbacks.
Hamstring concern adds to Tottenham injury list
Roberto De Zerbi did not try to dress it up afterwards. “Listen, Pedro, I said after the World Cup, I said the management of Pedro should be different, because after the World Cup, many games. I don’t know what the problem is. It’s a hamstring, I think. Hopefully, it’s not a big problem.”
That is not a diagnosis, but it is enough to confirm the obvious. Spurs fear a proper lay-off and Spain have now lost him for the upcoming international window. No replacement has been called up, which says plenty about the timing and nature of the withdrawal.
Photo: IMAGO
Porro had already missed games this season. After sitting out the opening-day defeat to Brentford, he returned from the bench in the 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Charlton, still Tottenham’s only win of the campaign. He then started league matches against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, missed the 0-0 draw with Everton and the cup defeat at Liverpool because of what De Zerbi had labelled a “small muscular problem”, then broke down again against Villa.
Spain setback deepens…
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