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Mykhailo Mudryk has spoken of his delight at getting back to competitive action after making his Tottenham Hotspur debut against Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The winger shared his happiness after his first appearance since November 2024 following a long suspension, although manager Roberto De Zerbi made it clear that the player still requires time to get fully fit.

Mudryk celebrates return to football

Mudryk was introduced in the 74th minute of Tottenham's 0-0 draw at The City Ground on Saturday. It was his first competitive match since November 2024, after he recently served a suspension for doping offences.

The winger, who arrived at Spurs on a deadline-day loan from Chelsea, appeared lively in his short spell on the pitch and then shared his reaction on social media. "No feeling better to be back on the pitch. First minutes in new colours. Thanks for support, furthermore," Mudryk wrote.

De Zerbi calls for physical improvement

In spite of the encouraging signs shown by the loanee during his brief outing, Tottenham boss De Zerbi admitted that the player is still some way off being ready to start regularly.

De Zerbi underlined that Mudryk must keep working hard to return to his best physical level before he can deliver consistently for the side. "He's not ready yet. He's working to reach the best physical condition. He needs time, he needs work," De Zerbi said in his post-match press conference, pointing to the physical demands needed to thrive in his current tactical system at the club.

Strong competition for starting places

De Zerbi also addressed the battle for places in Tottenham's attack, especially on the left side where Mudryk usually plays. The manager said Mathys Tel is another option there, although he added that both players still need to improve. "In that position, we have Mathys Tel, big potential. But also Mathys takes too many wrong decisions, and Mudryk. So, two big players, two big potential players. But if we want to score, I think Marmoush has 15 goals. Solanke, the header for him, I consider a chance to score. It's not a shot on goal. But how many shots did Nottingham have today?" De Zerbi added.

What next for Tottenham?

Mudryk will now aim to build on his late appearance and sharpen up significantly in training before a demanding run of matches. Tottenham welcome Everton in the Premier League on September 12, before making the difficult trip to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the EFL Cup Round of 16 three days later. Spurs then return home to face Aston Villa on September 19, which means the medical staff will need to manage the winger's minutes carefully during a packed week of fixtures.