Tottenham’s winger Mohammed Kudus is set to undergo surgery after yet another hamstring injury, jeopardising his participation in Ghana’s World Cup campaign against England, Panama, and Croatia.
Kudus now faces an uphill battle to be fit for the 2026 World Cup, as his latest setback raises significant concerns about his ability to play in the tournament.
This news has sent shockwaves through both Spurs and the Ghana national team, with the World Cup just three months away.
The 24-year-old is anticipated to have surgery to address his hamstring troubles, with Spurs fearing he may be sidelined for around three months.
If this timeline holds, he is unlikely to return for the remainder of the Premier League season and, alarmingly, his inclusion in Ghana’s World Cup squad is under serious threat.
A saga that began in December
This isn’t the first time Kudus has been hampered by hamstring issues this season.
The first injury occurred back in December, prompting Spurs and the player to adopt a cautious approach to his recovery.
Rather than opting for immediate treatment, Kudus journeyed to Amsterdam to consult a specialist linked to his former club Ajax, and they decided to pursue a more conservative, non-surgical plan to avoid a lengthy layoff.
This approach was meticulous. Both Spurs and Kudus understood the importance of the World Cup calendar, and all decisions made during the recovery process were aimed at ensuring he would be fit and ready for Ghana’s campaign this summer in North America.
For almost 100 days, Kudus committed to a rigorous rehabilitation schedule. The intention was for him to return to action after the March international break, a timeline that would allow him enough time to regain his sharpness and fitness ahead of the tournament.
From training to disappointment in mere days
The events that led to this latest development were unbelievably harsh. After an individual training session on Monday, Kudus felt a twinge in his hamstring, raising immediate concerns.
Following scans on Tuesday, those concerns were confirmed: the hamstring issue had re-emerged, and this time, surgery appears to be the only option.
With an expected recovery period of around three months post-surgery, it seems Kudus will not take the field for Spurs again this season.
As the World Cup kicks off in June, it sits on the outer edge of his recovery timeline, and even with perfect timing, doubts remain about whether a player returning from a second major hamstring injury this season would be fit enough to meet Ghana’s demands on the world stage.
A devastating blow for Ghana
The timing is particularly unfortunate for whoever will take over from Otto Addo, who departed just last week following consecutive defeats to Austria and Germany during the March international window. The new coach will now potentially manage a squad missing one of its most potent attacking threats.
Kudus is not just a pivotal player for Ghana; he represents their most dangerous threat in the attacking third. His performance during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was remarkable, as he finished as the Black Stars’ top scorer with two goals, despite their early exit from the tournament.
His knack for creating magical moments, direct play, and scoring capabilities make him nearly irreplaceable in the squad.
Alongside Kudus, other players like Francis Abu and Mohammed Salisu are likely to miss the World Cup for Ghana. Ernest Nuamah and Abdul Mumin remain in a race against time to regain match fitness after recovering from ACL injuries.
Ghana’s World Cup campaign will see them face England, Panama, and Croatia in Group L, starting against Panama in Toronto on June 17. What was already going to be a challenging group has only become more daunting without Kudus.
Compiled by SportArena.au
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