Fernandes Absent from Tottenham Squad Amid Injury Speculation
Tottenham's pre-season tour sees key players managed carefully, sparking debate over fitness and squad depth.
Callum Smith
Mateus Fernandes was not included in Tottenham's squad for their pre-season friendly against Sydney FC, fueling speculation regarding his fitness.
Lucas Bergvall has secured a starting position for Tottenham, while Archie Gray captains the Spurs side in today's fixture. Sandro Tonali and Andy Robertson occupy spots on the bench.
This strategic approach allows the club to manage its demanding pre-season schedule effectively. Mateus Fernandes did not feature in Tottenham's squad for the Sydney FC friendly.
Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, and Jan Paul van Hecke also missed the fixture. Concerns about Fernandes's fitness emerged after he remained on the sidelines during a recent training session in Australia, observing the rest of the squad.
This cautious stance directly follows James Maddison's extensive absence for almost the entire 2025-26 season due to injury. The club prioritizes player welfare.
Head coach Roberto De Zerbi previously deployed a young starting line-up for Tottenham's match against Auckland FC. Richarlison and Dane Scarlett both found the net in that encounter.
Sydney FC, established in 2004, brings a formidable history to this friendly fixture. The club boasts five A-League titles.
10x better than their opponents here.
Patrick Kisnorbo manages Sydney FC, preparing his side against a Tottenham squad that Will Pickworth asserts looks '10x better than their opponents here.' Pickworth also noted Sydney's numerous fouls, despite their robust defensive effort.
Manor Solomon may enter the starting XI for the Sydney FC game, despite his peripheral role since joining Spurs in 2023. He has completed successive loan spells at Leeds, Villarreal, and Fiorentina.
The Israeli winger actively seeks a permanent move, with West Ham expressing interest. His agent has explicitly stated Solomon's disinterest in another loan spell.
This aligns with Spurs' strategy to recoup funds and upgrade their wide attacking options. Several Tottenham players remain on post-World Cup breaks, recover from injuries, or lack match fitness.
Spurs near an agreement with Wolves for Kwasi Senyah, a 16-year-old defensive midfielder and England youth international. Senyah, coveted by multiple clubs, expects to join Spurs once terms are finalized and the FA clears the transfer.
Meanwhile, Benfica demonstrates interest in Spurs left wing-back Souza, signaling potential outgoing transfers. These movements could further reshape the squad's composition.
Leicester City maintains hope of acquiring 18-year-old centre-back prospect Malachi Hardy. This illustrates the dynamic transfer landscape surrounding Tottenham's developing talent.