TOTTENHAM have axed Mathys Tel from their Champions League squad for a second time.
The striker signed on a permanent basis in the summer but his fortunes have dipped ever since, and he has just three goals this season.
Tel, 20, first arrived in January last year on loan from Bayern Munich, and there is speculation he could make another loan switch this month.
His exclusion will likely add fuel to that fire, with manager Thomas Frank leaving him out of the Champions League squad for a second time.
Like he did in the summer, Frank has picked Dominic Solanke over Tel.
And but for Solanke’s continued injury woes, Tel would have not played a minute in Europe this term.
The Frenchman played 32 minutes in the 3-0 win over Slavia Prague but failed to feature Spurs’ five other league phase fixtures.
Tel will not be available for selection against Borussia Dortmund this week, but Solanke could feature after coming off the bench against West Ham on Saturday.
Asked about Tel’s omission, Frank said: “I made the decision. It was not a nice decision to have to make. Unfortunately that’s football, you have to make a decision.
“With the way the rules are, the only option was either Dom or Mathy in the squad.
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“I chose Dom because… I think Mathy has done very well in the last couple of games and that’s the crazy thing, if I could pick from all the players that are fit, then he would start tomorrow.
“But I can only pick between the two of them and now he is out of the squad.
“That’s of course a tough one to take for Mathy.”