As Djed Spence lay on the ground, clutching his jaw in agony, one couldn’t help but wonder what went through his mind. The Tottenham defender had just been struck by Chelsea’s Liam Delap during a collision in the dying moments of a crucial Premier League match. Though focused on the aerial ball, Spence became a victim of Delap’s spinning elbow.
Initially, Spence must have been taken aback by the fact that Delap escaped a red card. “Yeah, it was a crazy challenge,” he remarks. With his club fighting for survival in their final match against Everton, thoughts of how this injury would affect his World Cup aspirations likely weighed heavily on his mind.
Perhaps Spence was unaware of his broken jaw, as he continued to play until the final whistle of Spurs’ 2-1 loss, which meant they had to secure at least a draw against Everton to avoid relegation. His competitive spirit may have overshadowed the pain. When asked if he feared the worst, Spence confidently replied, “No, not really. It was painful but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw. So I was all good.”
Currently, Spence is in the United States with the England national team, preparing for Wednesday’s warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando, followed by their World Cup opener against Croatia in Dallas. He has been managing his injury with a protective jaw brace, which he donned during Spurs’ recent 1-0 victory over Everton to stave off relegation. Additionally, he wore it during England’s first friendly against New Zealand on Saturday in Tampa, where he assisted Harry Kane’s goal with a stunning cross.
Spence remains remarkably composed despite the discomfort. “It’s a little bit uncomfortable but it is what it is,” he explains. “I’ve got a broken jaw so I have to wear it throughout the tournament. It’s something I will have to get used to. It’ll be three months until it’s fully healed, so it’s a long time. I’ve been wearing it in training, getting used to it in the heat and just trying to fit in it properly, break it in.”
His selection by Thomas Tuchel raised some eyebrows, leading to questions about why the manager opted for him over other left-back candidates like Myles Lewis-Skelly or Lewis Hall. Despite speculation, Tuchel has consistently included Spence in his squads this season, while neither Lewis-Skelly nor Hall has seen extensive playtime.
Beyond Spence’s resilience, Tuchel appreciates his speed and defensive skills. Spence, primarily a right-back, has adapted to playing on the left side for Spurs over the past two seasons. With fitness concerns surrounding Reece James and Tino Livramento, Spence’s versatility has become invaluable.
“I’m naturally a right-back, but I’ve been playing left-back for a couple of years now,” Spence shares. “I’m still learning the position, still trying to get better, but versatility is a good strength to have. I haven’t played on the right for a long time, but it’s still a strong position for me and hopefully I might be out there on the right in this tournament. But, if not, I’m happy to be there on the left. It’s my position now.”
Spence’s performance against New Zealand was noteworthy, especially as he achieved his first assist of the season in his 48th appearance for club and country. Acknowledging his attacking contributions, he stated, “Yeah, definitely. Everyone knows how good I am one v one but going forward is a bit different playing on the left because it’s not my natural side going forward. There’s still stuff I can improve on and I’ve got to try to get more numbers.”
Unfazed by challenges, Spence has humorously referenced his ability to contain rival wingers on social media. Following a derby loss to Arsenal in February, the club posted a video highlighting Spence being outmaneuvered by Bukayo Saka, captioned with “locked up” and a padlock emoji. In response to Arsenal’s defeat in a penalty shootout to Paris Saint-Germain, Spence playfully commented on their earlier post, signaling his readiness for banter.
With Saka and fellow England teammates Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, and Eberechi Eze joining the squad after a brief break, Spence was asked if he anticipated any playful exchanges. “No,” he replied. “No jokes, no jokes. We have to focus on the tournament and hopefully it’s going to be a good one. We can joke afterwards.”
