Johnson, Kulusevski & Solanke: Latest Tottenham injury news and return dates ahead of Nottingham Forest

A run of three games unbeaten has hinted at the possibility that Tottenham Hotspur are starting to turn things around after a recent run of poor form – but if they are to continue their progress with a win against Nottingham Forest this weekend, then they will have to do so without several first-team players due to injury.

Brennan Johnson is a new name for the injury report after he missed the midweek win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League, and could be one of as many as eight players who miss out against Forest. The list of potential absentees includes both Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, with the point at which they might come back into the squad a matter of constant speculation.

Ahead of Sunday’s match at the City Ground, we’ve collected all of the latest Spurs injury news below, along with the stricken players’ predicted return dates when available.

Will Brennan Johnson be back in time to face Nottingham Forest?

Welsh winger Brennan Johnson was absent for the win over Slavia, apparently sidelined by an undisclosed injury which had kept him out of training in the build-up to the match.

Details are scarce and no information regarding the nature of the injury has been made public, but Thomas Frank told the media prior to Tuesday’s game that Johnson was “touch and go,” suggesting that the issue is minor. It has yet to be confirmed whether the 24-year-old will be back in time to face Nottingham Forest.

Other doubt include defenders Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin, both of whom continue to build up their fitness following thigh and ACL injuries respectively. Both have played in behind-closed-doors friendly games as they continue their rehabilitation, but Frank has yet to put a specific date on when they might be considered for the matchday squad. Either player could be involved to some extent this weekend.

Another player whose injury status is unclear is midfielder Yves Bissouma, who is still sidelined by an ankle ligament injury sustained on international duty in October. That injury puts his participation in AFCON 2025 in doubt – Mali will announce their squad for the tournament on Thursday – but even if he makes an unexpected return to fitness he is likely to be left out of the Spurs squad due to an internal disciplinary process which is taking place after Bissouma was allegedly filmed inhaling nitrous oxide. The 29-year-old was previously banned for one match by Spurs after a similar incident in 2023.

When will Dominic Solanke & Dejan Kulusevski be back for Spurs?

Doubt surrounds the status of striker Dominic Solanke, who had initially been slated to return from ankle surgery after the November international break but who has still not returned to first-team training – and has now been replaced in Spurs’ Champions League squad.

Frank insisted that Solanke had not suffered a setback in his rehabilitation but his continued unavailability means that Spurs made use of a registration rule which allows long-term injured players to be temporarily removed from their registered squad for UEFA competitions, replacing him with Mathys Tel. Solanke can be returned to the squad if he becomes available for the club’s final league stage matches.

Still, it remains unclear whether Solanke will be back in the coming weeks, with Frank repeatedly rebuffing questions about both his status and that of winger Dejan Kulusevski, who is on his way back from an ACL injury. The Swede has also not been pictured in training as yet, despite national manager Graham Potter telling the press that he expected Kulusevski to be back in action over the festive period.

As it stands, it remains unclear as to when either player might be back in action, and there are no indications that Solanke is likely to be back in the side to face Nottingham Forest.

Two other players will be absent on Sunday: Left-back Destiny Udogie, who has a hamstring injury that will keep him out for around four more weeks – making the FA Cup third round tie with Aston Villa a realistic return date – and James Maddison, who is back on grass as he ramps up his rehabilitation from an ACL injury sustained at the end of the summer. Maddison is still not expected to be back to full fitness until the end of the season.

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