Mohammed Kudus is the player Tottenham need to keep fit.
Spurs have plenty of talented attackers, but the African star offers something different. He can play across the forward line, carry the ball at defenders and create something from situations that appear to have broken down. That x-factor is difficult to coach.
His importance became particularly clear last season. When Kudus was unavailable, Tottenham’s attack lost a huge amount of unpredictability and the team’s level dropped. His ability to receive the ball under pressure and immediately turn defence into attack gives Roberto De Zerbi a weapon few of his other forwards can replicate.
There was another reminder against Aston Villa. Spurs had failed to score in their first four Premier League matches, but Kudus helped finally break the drought when his cut-back allowed Conor Gallagher to score late on. It was a simple piece of play, but it showed exactly what he brings: speed, directness and the ability to create a chance when defenders are retreating.
The Ghanaian has also had to work his way back from injury and has mostly been introduced from the bench since returning. That makes the next stage important. De Zerbi needs to build his attack around what Kudus does best rather than asking him to become another conventional wide player.
Spurs have spent heavily on their attack. They have goalscorers, runners and technically gifted players. What they lack at times is chaos — the ability to make something happen when a defence is organised.
Kudus provides that. His goal against Villa was ruled out for offside, but he remained involved and then produced the decisive contribution for Gallagher’s goal. Even when he is not scoring, he can change the shape of a game.
There is still work to do. Kudus has to regain full sharpness, and De Zerbi has to find the right role within a crowded attack. But the reward is obvious.
Keep him fit, give him freedom and Tottenham have a player capable of igniting the entire attack.
The biggest challenge is availability. Spurs cannot build their attacking plan around a player who is constantly recovering, so his rehabilitation and workload management need to be handled properly.
That is the balance De Zerbi now has to find: enough freedom for Kudus to be unpredictable, but enough protection to keep him available.
That is why his return to full fitness feels so important for the weeks ahead.
