In a moment of disorientation, Djed Spence found himself on the ground, clutching the left side of his jaw after a collision with Chelsea’s Liam Delap during the closing moments of a crucial Premier League match. As he focused on a high ball, Delap swung his left elbow directly into Spence, raising immediate concerns.
Initially, Spence was likely astonished that Delap escaped a red card for what many deemed a reckless challenge. “Yeah, it was a crazy challenge,” Spence admitted, reflecting on the incident. As he thought about his prospects in Tottenham’s critical home game against Everton and his ambitions for the upcoming World Cup, anxiety must have crossed his mind.
Despite the severe pain, Spence continued to play until the final whistle of Spurs’ 2-1 loss, a defeat that left them needing at least a draw against Everton to avoid relegation. Perhaps he was unaware of the seriousness of his injury, or his fierce competitive spirit simply pushed him through. His response was surprisingly nonchalant: “No, not really. It was painful but luckily I play football with my feet and not my jaw. So I was all good.”
Now, Spence is in the United States with the England national team, gearing up for their last warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando, followed by their opening World Cup group encounter with Croatia in Dallas the following week. He is donning a protective jaw brace, which he also wore during Spurs’ narrow victory over Everton and during England’s first warm-up match against New Zealand, where he assisted Harry Kane’s goal with a precise cross.
Despite the discomfort of the brace, Spence remains unfazed. “It’s a little bit uncomfortable but it is what it is. 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,” he explained.
His inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s squad surprised some fans, who questioned why he was chosen over Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall, or even Luke Shaw. Nevertheless, Tuchel has consistently selected Spence throughout the season, opting for him over others like Shaw, who has not featured in any of his selections.
Tuchel values Spence not only for his resilience but also for his speed and defensive skills. He is known as the fastest player in the World Cup squad and excels in one-on-one defensive situations. While primarily a right-back, Spence has adapted to playing on the left flank for Tottenham over the past two seasons, particularly with Reece James and Tino Livramento facing fitness challenges.
“I’m naturally a right-back, but I’ve been playing left-back for a couple of years now,” Spence noted. “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 showcased his potential, particularly with his first assist of the season coming in his 48th appearance for club and country. However, he recognizes the need to improve his offensive contributions. “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,” he admitted.
Unashamedly confident, Spence has taken to social media to share his successes against rival wingers. After Arsenal’s derby win in February, the team humorously posted a video of Spence being outmaneuvered, captioned with a padlock emoji. Following Arsenal’s recent Champions League penalty shootout loss, Spence humorously responded to their post with an emoji of eyes and an unlocked padlock.
As Saka and other Arsenal players joined the England squad after a break, Spence was asked if he anticipated any playful banter from them. “No, no jokes. We have to focus on the tournament and hopefully it’s going to be a good one. We can joke afterwards,” he responded, emphasizing the team’s commitment to their upcoming challenges.
