Tottenham forward Richarlison and defender Destiny Udogie remain out through injuries but are “working hard” to return to first-team contention, manager Ange Postecoglou has said.
Brazil international Richarlison and Italy’s Udogie missed their countries’ campaigns at the 2024 Copa America and Euro 2024, although they are part of Spurs’ pre-season tour of Japan and Korea.
A calf issue kept Richarlison out of Tottenham’s final three games of 2023/24 as part of a run of only one appearance for more than 29 minutes in their closing 13 matches for the 27-year-old.
“It’s been good, the boys have been working hard and it’s an important part of the year for us.” 🙌
Ange previews Saturday’s fixture against @visselkobe at the Japan National Stadium 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/obxOMreyRN
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 26, 2024
Udogie had surgery on his left quad in April, missing a run-in which saw Spurs collect six points from a possible 18.
“They’re working hard on their individual programmes to get back,” Postecoglou told Spursplay of the duo, adding that he had not expected either to be available against Vissel Kobe at the Japan National Stadium on Saturday (11am BST).
Left-back Udogie, 21, established himself as one of the stars of Tottenham’s excellent early form during Postecoglou’s first season in charge, starting their first nine games and contributing two assists.
It’s time for open training in Tokyo 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/mMe3fVRrXM
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 26, 2024
Richarlison scored nine times as Tottenham lost once in nine matches between the start of December and early February, adding a goal and assist in his most recent appearance against Liverpool on May 5.
Postecoglou reported a clean bill of health elsewhere across his squad and praised defender Ben Davies, who has returned to full training and celebrated his 10th year at the club after Spurs arrived in Japan.
“To stay at a big club for that long with different managers – we’ve all got our own ideas and our own views on the game, but he’s been a constant through that,” observed the Australian.
Training in Tokyo 💪 pic.twitter.com/F4Uy5plqLZ
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 26, 2024
“Any manager can see the qualities he has: he works hard in training, he’s a competitor and a really strong voice. Every club needs people and players like Ben and that hasn’t waned in him.
“He was injured for a little while, came back to training this week and you can already feel his presence around the place. It’s a credit to him that he’s clocked up 10 years here, and hopefully the best are yet to come.”
Tottenham head to the Seoul World Cup Stadium for matches against a K-League XI on July 31 and Bayern Munich on August 3 (both 12pm).
