Roberto De Zerbi reveals Tottenham right-back conundrum in new Pedro Porro injury update

The Spaniard was named on the bench as Spurs made it three wins in a row with a 2-0 victory at home to Crystal Palace last weekend.

De Zerbi said after the game that the decision not to start the right-back, who recently returned to fitness after a month out with a hamstring injury, came from the player himself, who told his manager that he did not feel comfortable playing from the off.

Porro had initially injured his hamstring after insisting he was ready to start Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in September before coming off injured after just 19 minutes.

Injury worry: Pedro Porro

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De Zerbi was prepared to listen to his vice-captain ahead of the Palace game, even though he said post-match that he believed Porro was fit enough to start.

The Italian seemed confident that there were no issues with his full-back last weekend but he was reluctant to confirm whether he would be available to start at Elland Road.

“I have not decided yet about Pedro Porro, but it is not a tactical decision,” the head coach said.

“When Pedro Porro is fit, he plays because he is a top player, top guy, leader, clear leader, without problems.”

Porro has started just three of Spurs’ first nine league games this season, leaving Archie Gray to deputise in his absence.

The versatile Englishman has carved out an important role for himself in De Zerbi’s side and was promoted to the team’s five-man leadership group at the start of the season.

Gray leads the Premier League for underlapping runs and has made more sprints than any Spurs player this term, with De Zerbi describing him as a “very smart player”.

Replacement: Archie Gray

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“Archie Gray is one of the best players in this moment, as a condition, as a confidence. He is playing very well,” De Zerbi continued.

“He can play everywhere because he can play right-back, full-back, midfielder. Is important overlapping, is important when he attack the space as a midfielder, starting from midfield. Important in the second ball, defensive phase, very smart player.”

De Zerbi has also been impressed by Gray’s maturity as he prepares to return to the club that gave him his senior debut as a fresh-faced 17-year-old away to Cardiff in August 2023.

Three years on, and Gray has developed into a jack of all trades, a leader on the pitch and someone De Zerbi believes can be instrumental to Spurs and England’s future.

“Gray is a leader, a young player, but is different leader. He is a leader on the pitch because he has personality even if he is very young.

“I think, like I said last season, he is the future of this club for the national team as well, and it is not important if it is not very clear his position on the pitch because for many players it is something more than less to be able to play in different positions on the pitch. It is important for us.”