Published Oct 31, 2026, 7:15 AM GMT

Ethan is a football journalist at Football FanCast specialising in opinion-led features, tactical analysis and Premier League coverage. A graduate of the University of Derby's Football Journalism course, he has developed experience covering multiple levels of English football, from non-league to the Premier League.
 

Ethan began his career as a media assistant at Mickleover Sports and an EFL reporter for VAVEL. After graduating in 2023, he spent six months covering the Premier League for GRV Media before joining Football FanCast in February 2024.
 

Since joining the publication, Ethan has focused on producing in-depth football features, combining statistical analysis with informed opinions on players, clubs and performances. A lifelong Nottingham Forest supporter and season-ticket holder, he brings first-hand experience of matchday football and a strong understanding of the issues affecting supporters to his writi

Roberto De Zerbi’s men come into the encounter off the back of last weekend’s memorable win against Chelsea, which no doubt has injected needed confidence into the senior ranks.

Feeling on cloud nine after the triumph at Stamford Bridge, another crucial victory in North London could well heap the pressure on opposition boss Pierre Sage.

Spurs' team news to face Crystal Palace this evening

During his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Spurs boss De Zerbi’s men provided a positive update on the fitness on numerous senior squad members.

The Italian confirmed that compatriot Destiny Udogie will be available to face the Eagles after being sidelined for the for the last two outings in the Premier League.

James Maddison is another who is set to be included in the matchday squad despite being replaced during the win against Chelsea as a pre-caution.

However, not all of his updates were positive, as the 47-year-old confirmed a plethora of first-team members will remain absent for the meeting on home soil.

Savio, Mykhailo Mudryk, Tosin and Lucas Bergvall have failed to recover from their respective fitness issues and will play no part in this evening’s encounter.

Why Spurs are in need of more attacking quality

50% of the Spurs players who remain sidelined for the clash with Crystal Palace are players who operate in forward areas - which could present an issue for De Zerbi.

The Italian now only has a handful of options available at his disposal for the meeting with the Eagles, and it’s safe to say such worries won’t help the club’s struggles in front of goal.

The Lilywhites have only managed to score eight times in the first eight games of the new campaign - a record which is the fourth-worst in the division at present.

No player in his senior ranks has managed to register more than one goal during the aforementioned period, further highlighting the struggles in forward areas.

Mathys Tel did score his first goal of the campaign during the previous outing against Chelsea, but that effort was only his third in the league since the start of 2026.

Why De Zerbi must unleash Spurs' best attacker since Son

Scoring goals never used to be an issue for Spurs in years gone by, especially when previous managers were able to call upon the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son.

The latter of the pair, who captained the Lilywhites to Europa League glory, netted a staggering 173 goals in his 454 outings for the club over a ten-year period.

His departure in 2025 left a huge hole in their attack and ultimately led to the mega-money being spent to improve the attacking department during the recent window.

The injury to Dejan Kulusevski has also been a bitter blow for the senior ranks, with the Swedish international missing the entirety of the 2025/26 campaign.

His gruelling 526-day absence with his knee injury only added to the departure of Son, as various managers were unable to call upon the 26-year-old’s star quality.

He’s since made two substitute appearances for the Lilywhites since his return, with his availability once again handing De Zerbi with an elite-level talent in North London.

Prior to his injury, Kulusevski enjoyed his best-ever campaign as a professional, as he registered a phenomenal tally of 10 goals and 11 assists in his 50 outings across all competitions.

No player in the club’s senior ranks has been able to achieve double figures in both departments since his long-term injury - highlighting why he’s so influential to the club’s attack.

As a result, De Zerbi should no doubt be looking to unleash the attacker during this evening’s meeting with Palace in a bid to end their unthinkable run without three wins in succession.

Undoubtedly, caution will need to be taken given the length of his absence, but there’s no reason why he can’t inject serious quality into the attacking department for at least 50 minutes of the clash.

His inclusion would inject further optimism into the fanbase amid their recent struggles and allow the club to pull further clear of yet another 17th-placed finish.