The latest Spurs team news and predicted line-up - with updates on Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani & Xavi Simons.
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Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this Saturday when they make the short trip across the capital to face rivals West Ham United – but will be forced to travel without several key first-team players due to fitness problems.
Up to six players could be absent through injury, with striker Dominic Solanke among the doubts for the match at the London Stadium – and there are question marks over the fitness of deadline day signings Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani.
We’ve got all the latest team news, injury updates and a predicted starting line-up for Frank’s side below as Spurs look to build upon a solid start to the new campaign.
Is Dominic Solanke fit for Spurs – or will Randal Kolo Muani play instead?
It’s not yet clear whether summer signing Kolo Muani is considered to be fit enough to start for Spurs. The versatile forward had only limited involvement in pre-season while a transfer away from PSG was being negotiated, and hasn’t played a match since his loan side Juventus were knocked out of the Club World Cup in July. It’s probable that he starts from the bench against West Ham with Richarlison in fine form.
Elsewhere, there are conflicting reports concerning the fitness of striker Solanke, who picked up an ankle injury that manager Frank initially described as “minor” when the forward missed the 1-0 defeat to his former side Bournemouth.
Since then, journalist Jake Sanders has claimed that Solanke’s injury is more serious than first anticipated and that surgery could be required, in which case he could be set for a long spell on the sidelines. That report has yet to be confirmed by the club, making the situation extremely unclear heading into this weekend.
Another doubt for the game is Japanese defender Kota Takai, who has yet to make his debut for the club due to planar fasciitis. He has returned to training over the international break, but it isn’t clear that he will be available this weekend. Fellow defender Radu Dragusin has returned to light training this week following an ACL injury, but is still some months away from full fitness.
Will Xavi Simons start for Spurs?
Dutch playmaker Simons became Tottenham Hotspur’s record signing when he moved from RB Leipzig shortly before the end of the summer transfer window, and could be ready to start against West Ham having enjoyed more game time and a more complete pre-season than fellow new arrival Kolo Muani.
Simons played two competitive matches for Leipzig before his move and started for the Netherlands against Poland during the recent international break. He should be close to full fitness and Frank will have to decide whether to put him straight into the first team or whether to integrate him gradually from the bench. If he doesn’t start, then Spurs will likely continue in a 4-3-3 system and revert to 4-2-3-1 when Simons is available.
Simons is set to act as the long-term replacement for James Maddison, who will miss most of the season with an ACL injury, while another key playmaker – Dejan Kulusevski – is not expected to return from his own knee injury before December. Yves Bissouma is another doubt in midfield as he works his way back from a muscular issue which scuppered his proposed move to Galatasaray.