Tottenham go to Chelsea on Tuesday evening with the focus fixed on who can actually make the squad, not just the result. Tottenham are 17th in the Premier League and only two points above 18th-placed West Ham United, so this is not a routine trip to Stamford Bridge. The latest bulletin leaves Dominic Solanke as a minor doubt and Guglielmo Vicario as a major doubt.

The fitness watch before Stamford Bridge

Solanke is carrying a hamstring issue and has a possible return date of May 19 against Chelsea, which at least keeps the door open. Vicario’s situation is more awkward. He has a groin issue, has missed Tottenham’s last five league matches, and could still be in the squad against Chelsea.

Those two names matter because the rest of the injury picture is already stretched. Xavi Simons has undergone ACL surgery after the Wolverhampton Wanderers match and faces a lengthy spell out. Cristian Romero suffered a knee injury in the loss to Sunderland last month and is ruled out for the remainder of the season.

The numbers underline why the pressure is so obvious. Tottenham have 38 points from 36 league matches, and only two points separate them from West Ham United in 18th. Chelsea are ninth, which shows the gap in table pressure between the clubs. That makes the availability of Solanke and Vicario more than a routine team-news update.

If Solanke can go, Tottenham at least keep a regular attacking option in the mix. He has made 15 Premier League appearances and scored 3 league goals this season. Vicario is even harder to replace in practice, because he has played 36 league matches and has been close to ever-present.

The simple truth is that Tottenham’s Chelsea visit now hinges on late fitness calls. If Solanke is cleared, they gain some attacking stability. If Vicario is also fit enough to be involved, the selection picture improves again. If not, Spurs head into a relegation fight with more gaps than they can afford.

The next update will matter more than the build-up. Tottenham still need confirmation on Solanke and Vicario before Tuesday, and the team sheet will say a lot about how much control they have left over the run-in.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 10 outlets. How we work →