One of Tottenham’s main players, Mateus Fernandes, was wanted by Manchester United in the summer.

He ended up making a move to Tottenham instead and now must perform to drag the team out of the trouble they find themselves in.

Roberto de Zerbi said: "Fernandes is a great player, maybe one of the best players in our team. He needs time to understand the club, he needs time to come inside well and better in the environment of Tottenham, but I have big confidence.

“He has to react. Life in football is tough, it’s difficult and the most important thing is the reaction to go through the problem.

“He doesn’t start the bad or worse than others but even well, he has to be stronger and he has all my confidence. He has all the confidence of the club but he needs time and we have to give him time."

Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Gray, Senesi, Van Hecke, Udogie; Gallagher, Tonali; Savio, Kudus, Bergvall; Solanke

Man Utd XI: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Amad; Cunha

Tottenham boss, Roberto de Zerbi, gave an update on the recovery of Dejan Kulusevski.

“He is working well, tomorrow he comes with us, also [Pedro] Porro. I want all players tonight and tomorrow,” he said.

“He is working very well, and I think he is an example for everyone, Deki [Kulusevski], because forget the player, but the example, how he reacts to the injury, how he reacts to being unlucky, the character he showed this time, was an example, a reference for everyone.”

"It's been a long time since we last sat here," Man Utd boss Michael Carrick said to open his press conference on Friday.

"Yeah, it's a little bit mixed really, through the internationals.

"Patrick [Dorgu] came off and it looks like he will be out for probably a number of weeks. Nous [Noussair Mazraoui] came off and took a knock. He's not quite right yet, so we'll see how he is.

"Where else are we at? Carlos [Baleba] is improving, he's trained a lot and is improving. Amad [Diallo] has done a little bit of training, Marcus [Rashford] has done a little bit of training, Kobbie [Mainoo] has done a little bit of training. So it's a little bit mixed really.

"Ben [Sesko] is further away, with the issue he has got. He won't be ready."

Manchester United will be without Benjamin Sesko, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui for the visit of Tottenham, a side still searching for their first win of the season.

Michael Carrick's team go into the weekend 12th in the table, hoping the fixture can kickstart a campaign that has stuttered since the new season began.

Roberto de Zerbi is also juggling injuries. Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mykhailo Mudryk are all sidelined.

Jan Paul van Hecke is fit again but remains a doubt following the birth of his twins and the “emotional impact” that might have on him and his family.

Pedro Porro is also out.