Richarlison is set to feature for Tottenham Hotspur for the first time in nearly two months, playing for the Spurs U21s in the EFL Trophy against Cheltenham on Tuesday night.

The 29-year-old forward was excluded from De Zerbi's Premier League squad for the new season and was not in the Spurs squad that lost to Liverpool in the League Cup. His last appearance for Spurs was on August 22nd in the opening away defeat to Brentford. With overage players permitted in the EFL Trophy, Richarlison faced League Two side Cheltenham to maintain match fitness under Spurs U21 coach Wayne Burnett.

With Spurs only able to register 17 non-homegrown players in their Premier League squad, and this allocation unable to be changed before the next English transfer window opens, Richarlison remains in limbo at the North London club.

De Zerbi had previously stated that Richarlison requested to leave multiple times this summer, prompting the Italian manager to include Xavi Simons in the squad instead, despite the Dutch player still undergoing rehabilitation from an ACL injury suffered in April and facing several months out.

Before the transfer window closed, Richarlison rejected opportunities to return to his former club Everton and his boyhood club Vasco da Gama. He was leaning towards a loan move back to Vasco, but Tottenham Hotspur had already exhausted their international loan slots.

The club is exploring legal avenues to terminate his contract early. His deal runs until next summer, with Spurs holding an option to extend for another 12 months.

Now the Brazilian international will play for the U21s on Tuesday night in his first match in nearly two months.

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