Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a difficult start to the Premier League season, with injuries continuing to cause problems for Roberto De Zerbi.

The Lilywhites have struggled to find consistency in the opening weeks of the campaign and will need to be at their best when they travel across London to face Chelsea this weekend.

Having already been forced to make changes to his starting lineup, the Italian will be desperate to have more of his key players available for one of the biggest fixtures of the season.

Pedro Porro could return for Tottenham against Chelsea

According to Hotspur HQ, Tottenham are hopeful of welcoming Pedro Porro back into the squad for Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge.

The Spanish right-back has endured a frustrating start to the 2026/27 campaign, with injury problems restricting him to just 224 minutes of action across all competitions.

The 26-year-old was forced off just 19 minutes into Spurs' 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in September after picking up a hamstring injury. Although the initial expectation was that he would be sidelined for weeks rather than months, his absence has proved another headache for De Zerbi.

However, there is now fresh optimism that the defender could be available against Chelsea after he shared a video of himself working in the gym on Instagram last Friday, accompanied by the caption: "Almost back."

Porro was not included in Tottenham's matchday squad for Monday's 3-1 victory over Coventry City, but the latest indications suggest a return could be close.

De Zerbi also offered encouragement when discussing the defender's recovery ahead of that fixture, saying: "I think he's coming - maybe in Chelsea he can play."

Chelsea could face a tougher test if Porro returns

Porro's potential return would be a significant boost for Spurs, particularly given the problems they have experienced in his absence.

The right-back is an important outlet going forward, offering pace, width and the ability to deliver dangerous balls into the penalty area. His availability would give De Zerbi another option in a fixture where Tottenham will need to be defensively organised without sacrificing their attacking threat.

The 26-year-old's return would also be timely given that Spurs have continued to pick up fresh injuries, with Lucas Bergvall and Savio among those unavailable for the Coventry clash.

Chelsea will be hoping to take advantage of Tottenham's fitness concerns, especially after their win over Everton, but the possibility of facing a side closer to full strength makes the derby a more difficult proposition.

Porro's availability is not yet guaranteed, and much will depend on how he responds to training in the coming days. However, with the Spaniard edging closer to a return, the Blues, having also lost Emi Martinez to injury, could have another problem to contend with this weekend.