Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons is facing a potential layoff until the beginning of the next calendar year, though he could still prove vital for the north London club during the current campaign.
The Dutch international has offered an update on his recovery as the Lilywhites prepare to face Charlton Athletic, with the Premier League side set to be without several players including Simons for Wednesday evening’s second-round Carabao Cup tie against the Championship team.
The 23-year-old sustained a serious knee injury in late April, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a narrow 1-0 victory over Wolves. The setback ended his involvement for the rest of that season and was expected to keep him sidelined for a significant portion of the following campaign. Despite having made only a handful of appearances under the club’s new head coach, Simons had shown promising signs of rediscovering his best form.
During his brief time on the pitch, Simons made an immediate impact, finding the net and providing a goal contribution on his first starting appearance under the new management. However, the injury abruptly halted his momentum.
Recent footage has shown Simons present at the club’s training facility in sportswear, and he was also present among spectators at the Gtech Community Stadium for the club’s opening league fixture of the new season, cheering on his teammates.
On Tuesday morning, Simons featured in a video announcement confirming Tottenham’s acquisition of Savio from Manchester City. In the footage, shared across the club’s social media platforms, Simons expressed his intention to soon be back on the pitch alongside his former PSV Eindhoven teammate.
The Dutchman offered warm words welcoming his old friend to the club, expressing happiness at the signing and confidence that supporters would take to the new arrival. He spoke about his dedication to rehabilitation and anticipation of both players featuring together in the squad soon. He also indicated his intention to support Savio from the sidelines in the meantime.
Simons and Savio overlapped for a brief period at PSV Eindhoven in 2022, appearing together on just seven occasions, yet they developed a strong friendship that has endured. Addressing the media at the training ground on Tuesday afternoon, manager Roberto De Zerbi expressed belief that the pair would become crucial figures for Tottenham, describing them as close companions and talented performers whom he greatly admires. The Italian coach suggested Simons in particular would develop into an extremely significant asset for the club moving forward.