Thomas Frank
Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Aston Villa to north London this Sunday as both teams aim to solidify their positions in the Premier League standings. Spurs, fresh from a 2-1 victory over Leeds United, are eager to continue their momentum. However, they face a formidable Aston Villa side that has won its last four matches. Tottenham manager Frank has provided updates on the team’s injury concerns and potential player returns.
Thomas Frank said: “[Randal] Kolo Muani has trained now for two weeks with the team, so that’s good. He looks better and better. He will be in contention for tomorrow, so that’s positive. Dom’s progressed well after the surgery, been on the pitch, he’s progressing and he’s going forward, so that’s good.” Frank added: “[Yves] Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks.” On whether Solanke could return before the next international break, Frank said: “I think the good thing is he’s positive. He’s progressing now. He’s still training on his own, so I don’t want to be too excited or too negative either way. I’m actually taking a little bit day by day and week by week to see how quickly he progresses. Dom is a naturally fit player. There are some players that naturally get that fitness up to a high level. But of course, also he’s taken into consideration he basically hasn’t trained with the team since July. That’s not to say it will take three months to get up to pace. It will take a little bit of time to get up to pace. How long, I don’t know.”
Tottenham’s injury list remains significant, with James Maddison sidelined due to a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained during the pre-season tour of Asia. Dejan Kulusevski, recovering from knee surgery in May, and Kota Takai, dealing with a foot injury, are also unavailable. Radu Dragusin, who suffered an ACL injury at the start of the year, is expected to be out for a few more weeks.
Aston Villa, on the other hand, are dealing with their own set of injury challenges. Ollie Watkins, who sustained a leg injury during England’s recent win over Wales, is expected to be fit for the match against Spurs. Villa manager Unai Emery provided updates on his squad’s fitness.
Emery said: “Tomorrow we will train again, normally he will be ready for Sunday.” Then, on Emiliano Buendia and Jadon Sancho, Emery confirmed: “Both have trained normally and will be available for Sunday in case they train well tomorrow.” The Villa boss added: “He is getting better. He trained this week individually. Tomorrow, we will see how he is. The idea is to train with the team and after that we will decide.”
Youri Tielemans is another concern for Villa, with the midfielder facing another four weeks on the sidelines due to a calf injury. He has missed the last six matches and recently suffered a setback in his recovery. Meanwhile, Andres Garcia, yet to feature this season, has been training and could be nearing a return.
As both teams prepare for the encounter, the focus will be on how each manager navigates their respective injury crises. The match promises to be a test of depth and resilience, with both sides eager to secure crucial points in their Premier League campaigns.
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