Tottenham's Quiet International Break: Spurs Players Update
Tottenham’s international picture looks unusually quiet this break — and that might suit them just fine.
Only two senior Spurs players have been called up so far, both by the Netherlands. Central defenders Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke have been selected by Dutch coach Xavi Hernandez, a nod to their early impact in North London and their growing status at international level.
For others, the break will look very different.
Porro out, Kudus stays put
Pedro Porro’s absence from Spain’s squad was inevitable. The right-back limped out of Tottenham’s 2-3 home defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday with what appeared to be a hamstring problem, and Spain quickly removed him from their plans. No debate there. Spurs will now be hoping the damage is limited and the schedule gives him room to heal.
Mohammed Kudus is a more intriguing case.
According to Alasdair Gold of Football.London, Kudus has voluntarily withdrawn from the Ghana squad to continue his recovery and build fitness in London. No pressure from the club, no enforced medical ruling — just a player choosing club conditioning over AFCON qualifiers.
It says plenty. Kudus has not started a match since before the injury that disrupted his season last year. His minutes have been carefully managed, but the trajectory is clear: he has looked sharper with each cameo. Against Villa he produced his most convincing display yet, registering an assist and seeing another ruled out for offside.
Instead of riding that form into international duty, he’s staying back to work. For a player still bedding into Spurs’ system and chasing full sharpness, three focused weeks at Hotspur Way could be priceless.
England youth recognition for academy duo
While the senior call-up list is thin, the academy door is swinging open.
Defender Malachi Hardy and forward Luca Williams-Barnett have both been named in the England U19 squad. Both are Tottenham through and through, both products of the club’s youth system, and both now stepping onto a bigger stage.
Hardy turned heads in pre-season with his composure and minutes against senior opposition, forcing his name into internal conversations about the future defensive pecking order. Williams-Barnett, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the standout talents in the academy. He has already been training with the first team, even if he has yet to make a Premier League bench.
They’ve been in the England youth setup before, but this is the first time either has been elevated to the U19 level. It’s a clear marker of where they stand in the national picture — and a reminder that, even in a quieter international window for the senior side, Tottenham’s long-term pipeline is very much alive.
Fewer air miles for the first team. Bigger stages for the kids. As the season grinds on, that balance might prove exactly what Spurs need.
