Next Tottenham manager gets huge relegation battle boost as three players near injury return

Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange have been tasked with appointing a head coach who will keep Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The next Tottenham Hotspur manager could welcome three big names back to the matchday squad ahead of the end-of-season Premier League run-in. In just under two weeks, the Lilywhites will head down the home straight of the relegation battle when they lock horns with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

With just seven games left to play, only a point – and a hefty goal difference – separates Tottenham from West Ham in the bottom three. After mutually parting ways with Igor Tudor, Vinai Venkatesham and Johan Lange have been tasked with appointing a manager who will keep Spurs in the English top-flight.

football.london understands that the Lilywhites expect to appoint a head coach in the coming days. Tottenham want somebody in place to welcome back those who reported for international duty, giving the squad sufficient time to prepare for the trip to the North East on April 12.

It's also understood that Spurs are in advanced talks with Roberto De Zerbi about the vacant position. The Italian, who left Marseille earlier this season, was initially reluctant to take the job before the end of the season, despite being keen on a return to the Premier League.

FOLLOW OUR TOTTENHAM FB PAGE! Latest Spurs news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

However, it's said that there's a growing willingness from both parties to get a deal over the line. If De Zerbi were to take the reins at Tottenham, he'd have just under two weeks to acclimatise himself at Hotspur Way before leading his new squad into battle.

Although Sunderland may fancy their chances against Spurs, having won the Tyne-Wear derby just before the international break, Spurs could welcome three big names back to the matchday squad: Mohamed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Mathys Tel.

Kudus suffered a hamstring injury in January, and he's yet to return to action. Speaking to reporters ahead of Tottenham's clash against Nottingham Forest earlier this month, Tudor suggested the winger could return to partial first-team training before April.

Bentancur underwent surgery on a hamstring injury in January. The former interim Spurs boss put the midfielder in the same bracket as Kudus, claiming that he, too, has been making good progress with his recovery.

Tel suffered a knock during the defeat to Forest just before the international break, and was forced to come off. The forward later withdrew from international duty, having been called up by the France Under-21s.

Elsewhere, Ben Davies underwent surgery for a fracture of his left ankle at the start of the year. As it stands, it remains unclear whether the defender will return before the end of the season, however, he has been mooted as a potential short-term fix in the dugout.

James Maddison has also been stepping up his preparations ahead of a potential return before the end of the campaign. The midfielder, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the summer, has recently returned to first-team training as he looks to rebuild his match fitness.

Yves Bissouma has been nursing a muscle injury. After missing a large chunk of the season with a knee problem, the midfielder played eight Premier League games in a row before returning to the sidelines.

As for Dejan Kulusevski, he remains out with a complicated knee injury. As does Wilson Odobert, who ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last month.