Fernandes Absent from Tottenham Squad Amidst Injury Concerns
Midfielder Mateus Fernandes was not included in Tottenham's squad for their pre-season friendly against Sydney FC.
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Midfielder Mateus Fernandes was not selected for Tottenham's pre-season friendly match against Sydney FC on Wednesday. Fernandes was observed training on the sidelines during a recent session, which had led to speculation about a potential injury.
Player Management Strategy
Despite the concerns, reports indicate that head coach Roberto De Zerbi is implementing a careful approach to managing player game time throughout the team's current tour. This strategy aims to safeguard key players and avoid a recurrence of the significant injury issues that affected the squad last season. The club experienced a severe injury crisis during the 2025/26 campaign, which contributed to a challenging relegation battle. Other players, including Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, and Jan Paul van Hecke, were also not part of the squad for the Sydney FC fixture.
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Fernandes' Pre-Season Performance
Fernandes had previously featured in Tottenham's initial two pre-season matches. He scored a notable goal in a closed-door victory against MK Dons and played a portion of the game in the 2-0 win over Auckland FC. The club's record signing, Sandro Tonali, was named among the substitutes for the match against Sydney FC, having also been absent from the squad that faced Auckland FC.
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Questions this report answers
+Why wasn’t Mateus Fernandes included in the squad?
Mateus Fernandes was not included due to concerns over his fitness, as he trained separately rather than with the main group. The club is managing player minutes carefully to prevent injuries after last season’s struggles.
+Which other Tottenham players were missing from the Sydney FC match?
Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, and Jan Paul van Hecke were also absent from the squad for the Sydney FC friendly. Sandro Tonali, the club’s record signing, was named as a substitute but did not play.
+What is Tottenham’s approach to player fitness during pre-season?
Tottenham is prioritising player fitness by carefully managing game time to avoid injuries. This strategy follows a difficult season where injuries contributed to a relegation battle.
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