Tottenham vs Newcastle: Savio's Absence and Marmoush's Full Debut
Tottenham step back out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium today still nursing the bruises from their opening‑day collapse at Brentford. A 3-0 defeat has already put Roberto De Zerbi under sharp early scrutiny, and the visit of Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle carries the weight of a must‑response performance for the north London side.
They had hoped the buzz around Savio might help shift the mood.
Signed from Manchester City earlier in the week, the Brazilian winger lit up his first appearance in midweek, coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup and scoring a stunning goal in a 5-1 demolition of Charlton Athletic. One dart inside, one emphatic finish, and he walked off to the kind of ovation that tells a player he has arrived.
That made the teamsheet for Newcastle all the more jarring.
No Savio. Not even on the bench.
This, after De Zerbi had openly suggested before the game that the 22-year-old was in the frame to make his full Premier League debut. The expectation was clear: the crowd wanted to see more. Instead, they were left scanning the squad list in disbelief.
De Zerbi moved quickly to clarify the situation on Sky Sports, stripping away any hint of drama and replacing it with cold medical reality.
“There was bad news yesterday, before training in the afternoon. He suffered muscle fatigue and the medical staff didn’t want to take a risk. I agree with them,” the Italian explained.
No gamble, no Savio. Not this weekend.
De Zerbi now aims to have him ready for next weekend’s league trip to Nottingham Forest, a game that already looks important in shaping the early narrative of Spurs’ season. For now, though, Tottenham must cope without the winger who had just started to ignite the fanbase.
If Savio’s absence was a blow, there was at least one new attacking spark in the XI.
Omar Marmoush, another former Manchester City player and a fresh arrival in north London this week, goes straight into the starting line-up. The forward has joined Spurs on an initial loan that includes a £60million obligation to buy, and De Zerbi has wasted no time throwing him in from the first whistle.
From the stands, that will feel like a statement: no Savio, but no hesitation in trusting Marmoush to carry the fight.
The surprises did not end there. Richarlison, whose future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has hovered under a cloud all window, was also missing from the bench. No injury bulletin, no cameo role, just another big name absent on a day when Spurs chase their first league win of the campaign.
There was at least one piece of good news hidden among the selection setbacks.
Mohammed Kudus, sidelined since January with a stubborn thigh problem, was finally passed fit enough to return to the matchday squad. He only makes the bench, but his presence alone changes the feel of Tottenham’s attacking options. If the game opens up, if tired legs appear, Kudus is there as a potential game-changer.
So Spurs go into a pivotal afternoon short of one new star, leaning on another, and quietly welcoming back a long-missed talent.
After Brentford, they need a response. The question now is whether this reshaped front line can deliver it under the glare of their own stadium.
