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Why Mateus Fernandes is not playing for Tottenham today after injury rumours
Jul 29 2026 10:51 · By onefootball.com · 6 Reads
Spurs fans feared new £85m signing had suffered knee issue before Sydney FC friendly
Mateus Fernandes has been left out of Tottenham’s squad for their pre-season friendly against Sydney FC on Wednesday.
The Portuguese midfielder, who has played in each of Spurs’ first two pre-season games following his £85million move from West Ham, was seen in a recent video standing on the sidelines as the rest of the squad trained in Australia, raising concerns that he had suffered an injury.
Those fears, though, have reportedly been allayed with head coach Roberto De Zerbi carefully managing the minutes of several first-team players during a busy summer tour.
Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Jan Paul van Hecke have all also been left out of Spurs’ squad for Wednesday’s game against A-League opposition at Allianz Stadium.
Absent: Mateus Fernandes will play no part for Tottenham against Sydney FC
Getty
Spurs were beset by injuries again last season, and De Zerbi is determined to avoid a similar crisis to the one that derailed their 2025/26 campaign and contributed to a nerve-shredding relegation battle that dragged on until the final day before a second successive 17th-place finish in the Premier League.
Fernandes impressed in his first two outings in a Spurs shirt, scoring a wonderful volley in the 1-0 victory over MK Dons held behind closed doors at Hotspur Way last week before the team jetted off Down Under.
He then came on in the 62nd minute against Auckland FC on Sunday as Spurs completed a comfortable 2-0 win in front of a record crowd at Eden Park thanks to goals from Dane Scarlett and Richarlison.
There had been some concerns that club-record signing Sandro Tonali, who joined from Newcastle for £100m last month, would miss out against Sydney FC after not being included at all in the squad to face Auckland.
The Italian international has, however, been named among the substitutes as Spurs look to continue their perfect start to pre-season.