"Soon we'll be both in the squad and on the pitch. I just can't wait." Xavi Simons said that when welcoming Savio to Tottenham at the end of August. Whether 'soon' holds up is the real question — because the 23-year-old is currently doing his rehab thousands of miles from North London.
Simons ruptured his ACL in his right knee back in late April, which wiped out the rest of last season and has already eaten into this one. He made a handful of appearances under Roberto De Zerbi before the injury — a goal and an assist on his first start, then substituted off in the 1-0 win at Wolves the following weekend. That was it. Nothing since.
Baltimore, Boston, and a jersey swap with Pastrnak
This week, Simons has been stateside, visiting the training complex of NFL franchise the Baltimore Ravens and dropping into the Boston Bruins' facility, where he swapped shirts with David Pastrnak — a neat full-circle moment given the Czech winger visited Tottenham Hotspur Stadium back in 2023. He also made an unannounced appearance at the Boston Spurs Supporters' Club on Saturday, hours before Aston Villa handed Spurs yet another defeat in what is shaping up to be a grim start to the De Zerbi era. Next stop is reportedly Santa Monica.
The cross-sport rehab circuit isn't just tourism. NFL and NHL franchises run some of the most advanced sports science programmes in the world, built around athletes who need to return fast and stay durable. Simons clearly isn't sitting still.
What his absence actually costs Spurs
The timing is rough for De Zerbi. Tottenham are already winless in the new Premier League season, and the squad depth behind the players who are fit looks thin. Simons was supposed to be one of the creative engines of this side — a technically gifted midfielder capable of unlocking defences at the highest level. His absence makes Spurs more predictable, and right now their odds reflect a team that hasn't found a footing yet.
A return to competitive action before Christmas looks unlikely. Early next year is the working estimate, though no firm date has been given. The gym footage looks good. But an ACL is an ACL — looking strong in training and handling Premier League intensity are two very different things.
"When they see you play, I know they're going to love you too," Simons told Savio in that welcome video. He'd better be right — because until he's back, Spurs need Savio and whoever else is fit to carry the load.
