Pedro Porro’s return at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ended almost as soon as it began. He lasted just 19 minutes against Aston Villa before signaling to the bench and walking off, ruling him out of Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad for the Nations League.
The timing could not be worse for Spain. Just a day earlier, De la Fuente had named Porro in his squad for matches against England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. Now Porro is out again, leaving Spain short on the right. The Spanish Football Federation has reduced its Nations League squad to 25 players following the injury and has not called up an immediate replacement.
Porro’s injury is worrying given his recent problems. He had just recovered from a muscle issue that kept him out of Tottenham’s last games. Cleared to play, he made it only 16 minutes before pain forced him off, and Tottenham’s staff acted quickly to avoid making things worse. Spanish sports outlets reported that the muscle injury recurred during the Aston Villa match, leading to his substitution between the 16th and 19th minute. They also reported that Porro was initially selected for De la Fuente’s first squad of the new cycle. Medical tests are ongoing, and no recovery timeline has been set.
Doctors will assess the injury and how long Porro will be out. He will not play for Spain during this international window, leaving the coaches to consider their options. The squad is down to 25, and the right-back spot is wide open.
Iván Fresneda of Sporting de Portugal is one possible replacement. The Spanish federation has been tracking him closely. Fresneda can play in both wide and central defense, which could be useful if De la Fuente decides to add someone. He came through Real Madrid’s youth teams and broke through at Valladolid, adding to his case.
Other choices are less straightforward. Marcos Llorente, who filled in at right back during the World Cup, is no longer available after stepping away from the national team. Eric García could cover the position, but it is not his basic role.
Tottenham will continue monitoring Porro in the next few days. Spain’s problem is immediate: the team needs to adapt quickly to avoid defensive problems during a impressive Nations League run.
With the squad already down to 25, De la Fuente must decide whether to bring in another right back before Spain’s next Nations League games.
