Tosin Adarabioyo’s first Premier League start for Tottenham Hotspur ended with an injury scare, but Roberto De Zerbi has offered the Nigerian-eligible defender hope of avoiding a spell on the sidelines after he was forced off during Monday’s 3-1 win over Coventry City, Footynaija.com reports.
Adarabioyo, who had waited for his first league start since joining Spurs, produced a composed display alongside Micky van de Ven before leaving the pitch in the second half. De Zerbi later praised his character and said he deserved his opportunity, making the fitness concern an unwanted interruption on a night when the defender had given his manager reasons to trust him.
Tottenham had endured a miserable start to the season, going six league matches without a win before finally beating Coventry. James Maddison opened the scoring, Omar Marmoush restored Spurs’ lead after Jack Rudoni’s equaliser, and Ben Davies sealed the points late on.
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The result lifted Tottenham out of the relegation zone and gave De Zerbi some relief ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea.
De Zerbi plays down Adarabioyo concern
The 27-year-old was among three Tottenham players who raised fitness concerns during the match, with Andy Robertson and Marmoush also substituted after appearing to struggle. Robertson looked particularly uncomfortable as he signalled for assistance, while Adarabioyo required treatment before making way.
However, De Zerbi played down fears after the game.
Speaking about the trio, the Italian said: “No, no, no, I think there are no injuries, nothing important.” Metro reported his comments on Tuesday, offering encouragement to Spurs supporters ahead of the weekend fixture.
The manager’s words suggest the three withdrawals may not lead to serious absences, although Tottenham will need to assess the players before confirming their availability against Chelsea.
For Adarabioyo, the immediate priority is to recover fully and build on a start that earned praise from his manager. De Zerbi described him as an important personality in the dressing room and stressed that the defender deserved to play.
With Tottenham still trying to turn their first league win into a more stable run, having Adarabioyo available would give the manager another defensive option for a difficult London derby.
