The Premier League calendar spares no time for slow starters, and as the 2026–27 campaign heads into a crucial third round of fixtures, the pressure valve is already tightening in North London. Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a tricky trip to the East Midlands this Saturday to take on a resilient Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground.
For Spurs, the narrative heading into the weekend is far from ideal. Roberto De Zerbi’s side has endured a frustrating start, remaining winless through their opening two league matches after suffering back-to-back defeats. Following a summer of heavy, ambitious investment that raised expectations sky-high for a serious push toward European qualification, the board and the fan base are demanding an immediate response. Panic stations may not be officially declared just yet, but patience wears thin quickly in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Oliver Glasner’s Nottingham Forest side has enjoyed a more encouraging start. Having already picked up a win and a stunning, hard-fought 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend, Forest have proven they possess the grit and quality to trouble any opponent in the division.
As both managers finalize their tactical preparations, the medical rooms at both clubs are dominating the headlines. With a handful of key stars ruled out and several critical names facing late fitness tests, here is the comprehensive early injury and team news roundup ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
Nottingham Forest Injury Updates: Glasner Sweating Over Midfield Fitness
Forest head into the weekend fixture dealing with a mix of long-term absences and nagging knocks, though manager Oliver Glasner will be desperate to welcome back some crucial cogs in his engine room.
- Nicolo Savona (Out): The defender is facing a frustrating spell on the sidelines and is expected to remain out until at least October with an ongoing knee issue. Glasner recently admitted that his recovery has hit a snag, noting that a minor setback occurred after his knee reacted poorly to increased physical loads. Savona is currently restricted to gym work as he targets a return to the grass in the coming weeks.
- Ibrahim Sangare (Doubt): The influential midfielder was a notable absentee in Forest’s heroic draw against Liverpool after picking up a minor calf injury during a midweek training session. The club is quietly hopeful that the extra recovery time will clear him to feature against Spurs, providing a massive boost to their defensive stability in the middle of the park.
- Xavi Simons (Out): In the most significant long-term blow for Forest, the playmaker remains sidelined until the new year as he continues his grueling rehabilitation following an ACL rupture suffered last season.
Tottenham Hotspur Injury Crisis: De Zerbi Faces Selection Headaches
Tottenham’s sluggish start hasn’t been helped by a mounting physical toll on the squad. Roberto De Zerbi is sweating on the fitness of several star attackers as he searches for a winning formula.
- Wilson Odobert (Out): The young winger is a long-term absentee for Spurs, continuing his recovery from an ACL tear suffered prior to Simons’ injury. Odobert is not expected to return to first-team contention until late November or early December.
- James Maddison (Doubt): Maddison has been battling discomfort in his left shoulder. While De Zerbi has downplayed the severity of the issue, his availability for Saturday remains up in the air. The Italian manager has emphasized the need to manage Maddison carefully, noting that a consistent three-to-four-week training block is required to get him back to his absolute best, though a cameo or start this weekend hasn’t been completely ruled out.
- Savinho (Doubt): The recent arrival endured a frustrating start to life at Tottenham after picking up a minor muscular issue following his debut. Having missed training blocks during his final days with Manchester City, the medical staff has exercised extreme caution. While he could resume light training early in the week, throwing him straight into a high-intensity battle at the City Ground remains a risk.
- Dejan Kulusevski (Out): In more uplifting news for the club, Kulusevski has officially reached a monumental milestone in his recovery. After spending an agonizing 477 days on the sidelines, the attacker recently posted a jubilant update confirming he is finally back in full team training. While Saturday’s match will come too soon for a competitive return, seeing him back on the pitch feels nothing short of a miracle for Spurs supporters.
High Stakes at the City Ground
With Tottenham desperate to kickstart their season and avoid falling behind the early European pace, and Forest eager to capitalize on home advantage to cement their giant-killing credentials, Saturday’s clash promises to be an absolute thriller. Whichever side manages to navigate their respective injury crises more effectively could well walk away with all three points.
