The Mirror

The Tottenham boss has brought his specialist knowledge - and a set piece expert - across London from Brentford and it paid dividends when Van de Ven headed home from two corners at Everton

Thomas Frank has revealed his 30-year history with set pieces - starting with an under-12s team - led to Micky van de Ven heading home twice at Everton on Sunday.

Set pieces are becoming increasingly important in modern football with 19% of all English top-flight goals so far this season coming from corners (45/241) - the highest number ever.

Premier League leaders Arsenal have scored nine set-piece goals with Tottenham level third with five. It is a big change from under previous boss Ange Postecoglou.

Frank become famous for his deadball plays during his time at Brentford.

But the Dane, now 52, said: "I would say I always want to develop things and where's the edge, how can we do stuff that can potentially win a football match. I think there's three three times where I clearly remember.

“One was my under-12 team in Frederiksvaerk where we played a semi-final in very low grassroot level and we scored from two very nice corner combinations that I was figuring out.

“I was very pleased with that of course. We won the semi-final, got to the final, we won the final so I won something it was just very very low level!

“Then the second thing was my under-17 national team born in 1994 went to the Euros in 2011. Very, very good in playing football, **** at set pieces.

“We needed to go to the Euros so we spoke to one of the old, old school proper coaches in Denmark Viggo Jensen we knew he was just so good at set-pieces.

“He had a clear strategy from you know into the first post flick and then we invited him in, he was 60 years old and he was so humble and honoured that we asked him about it.

“He brought this big notebook up and it was just page after page after page with details. We worked on it and we scored the first goal in the Euros against Serbia then we won 3-2, then we beat England 2-0 in the second game - I think Pickford was in the goal and Sterling.

“The third time is when I came to Brentford because in Brondby I was OK but Brentford was the real game-changer. Especially with that focus from (owner) Matthew (Benham) but especially (technical director) Rasmus Ankersen.

“If one should have credit for the long throws it's Rasmus Ankersen. He loves that. When we beat Arsenal on the first day on a long throw in the second goal he was very, very happy.”

Asked if the principles of the setpieces he did with his Under 12s are the same as in the Premier League, Frank smiled: “I would say more the things I did with my under-17 team in 2011. A lot of the bits I do, the leadership, football everything is probably 85% the same but it's just the small bits constantly adding layers doing things differently.

Frank has brought Swedish setpiece coach Andreas Georgson from Brentford to the Tottenham Stadium

Andreas is doing a top job, the players are doing a top job and they are on board. They are really committed to it. For me, I think every phase in the game we need to be good at if we want to build a top-team and set-pieces are obviously big. I think a third of all goals are from set-pieces so not to use time on it and be super-focused on the details of doing the right thing, you can instruct the team so you can defend them but you can definitely attack them. That’s a major strength so I am very happy with how we are at the moment with that."

Wasn’t there a stat that we have had more goals from set-pieces this season? Definitely more long throws in general from a lot of teams. That is a clear example of more focus on it.

"Every manager and club wants to compete and it is about finding the small margins. I think the success that we had at Brentford was maybe not as fancy because we were a smaller club but also Arsenal picked it up. Liverpool two years ago were extremely good at it too. So top clubs picked it up and then go: ‘Oh you probably need to do this if you want to be able to compete or raise the bar to be even better.’ So that is probably the reason’."

Asked to compare Van de Ven with another player he has coached, Frank said: . It was Daniel Agger at Liverpool who was Danish and I worked with him I had him as a player at Brondby. Different but good left foot both of them. Probably Daniel would have loved a little bit more pace and Micky could probably still learn a little bit more toughness but that would be a good combination of the two.”

Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank wants to the two-legged semi-finals to be scrapped to stop the “same boring teams” winning the competition

Thomas Frank has called for two-legged Carabao Cup semi-finals to be scrapped to stop the “same boring teams” winning the competition. Newcastle lifted the trophy in March to end a run of 11 consecutive wins in the competition by Big Six clubs.

Crystal Palace won their first ever major trophy in the FA Cup while the current Premier League table includes Bournemouth and Sunderland. And before Wednesday's visit to St James’ Park, the former Brentford boss claimed the calendar for the League Cup should be changed to give smaller teams a bigger chance to lift silverware.

"There should only be one semi-final,” said the Dane. “I said that before at Brentford and that's why I'm very happy to say it again. For the smaller clubs, if you want to beat a bigger club, it's much much easier to play only one game.

"So if we really want someone to break out and it's not the same boring same teams that are winning - of course except for Spurs - then we need to skip one semi-final. For everyone else that plays so many games, it should only be one.

"So if it's about money then someone needs to fix it. If it's the Premier League paying money to the EFL, because as far as I understand it's because of that, so someone fix it. It should be very very easy.”

The last time the EFL Cup semi-final was played over only one leg was in the Covid-hit season of 2020-21 when Tottenham beat Frank’s then Championship side Brentford 2-0. Spurs sacked Jose Mourinho a week before losing the final to Manchester City.

Frank’s Bees side lost 3-1 to Newcastle in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup last season after he made five changes.

“That's a long time ago,” said the Dane. “I remember we lost.”

Frank’s Tottenham side - who lifted the Europa League last season- are now up to third in the Premier League after five away games unbeaten and five goals from setpieces, including two headers from Micky van de Ven at Everton.

And the Dane, 52, said he had a long history working on moves, starting with his Under-12 team in Frederiksvaerk and then his Denmark Under 17 national team which beat Jordan Pickford's England team at the Euros in 2011.

“They were very, very good in playing football, **** at set pieces,” he laughed. “With a proper old school coaches called Viggo Jensen, we worked on it and we scored the first goal in the Euros against Serbia then we won 3-2, then we beat England 2-0 in the second game.

“But Brentford was the real game-changer. Especially with that focus from Matthew (Benham) but especially Rasmus Ankersen.

“If one should have credit for the long throws it's Rasmus Ankersen. He loves that. When we beat Arsenal on the first day on a long throw in the second goal he was very, very happy.”

EVERTON 0-3 TOTTENHAM: Spurs scored twice from set pieces with Micky van de Ven notching a double before Pape Sarr added a late third for Thomas Frank's side

Captain Micky van de Ven led from the front with two headers to inflict Everton's first defeat at their new stadium as Tottenham moved into third with a 3-0 victory.

David Moyes ' side went from conceding no league goals from corners to two in the first half as the visitors profited firstly from a good set-piece routine and then from woeful marking.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank handed on-loan Paris St Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani his first start but Van de Ven provided the biggest threat with his double putting him out in front as the team's top scorer with five, having failed to score at all last season.

Those goals - plus another late header from Pape Sarr - secured a 13th point from a possible 15 on the road, form which has provided the platform for their rise to within five points of leaders and north London rivals Arsenal.

It was a strange performance from Tottenham as after taking a 19th-minute lead they went into their shell and barely suggested they would threaten again until their captain struck once more in first-half added time.

But while Spurs made the most of their chances the home side did not despite having plenty of creativity on either wing from Iliman Ndiaye, comfortably their best player, and the returning Jack Grealish.

Both players found themselves facing two opponents whenever they got the ball and while Ndiaye's pace saw him get in behind a couple of times, there was little in the way of danger in the middle.

The closest they came was when striker Beto miscontrolled Ndiaye's cross to Grealish, whose goalbound shot was blocked almost on the line by Pedro Porro in just the third minute.

A team who have scored nine league goals this season need those chances to go in and when they do not it makes winning games that much more difficult.

They were uncharacteristically undone at a corner when Mohammed Kudus' cross to the far post was diverted back across goal by Rodrigo Bentancur's shoulder and Van de Ven nodded in from close range.

Everton proceeded to dominate and were denied an equaliser when Jake O'Brien's near-post header was ruled out after VAR suggested Ndiaye and Grealish, both in offside positions sandwiching Guglielmo Vicario, were interfering with the goalkeeper and referee Craig Pawson agreed after reviewing the footage.

Despite creating little from open play Spurs continued to look dangerous at set-pieces and after Bentancur headed over one corner, Van de Ven made no mistake from another after finding himself unmarked between Everton's two centre-backs.

Everton had conceded as many in 52 minutes - after seven added on - as they had in their previous five matches at Hill Dickinson Stadium and their goalscoring record suggested the game was as good as done.

Ndiaye did his best to not make it a formality, flicking one shot wide and having another deflected effort tipped around a post either side of crossing for Beto's overhead kick to be clawed out by the impressive Vicario.

Jordan Pickford saved well from former Everton forward Richarlison, on for Kolo Muani, in a rare Spurs foray but faced with an attack now being led by 23-year-old Thierno Barry - yet to open his account since his £27million move from Villarreal - scoring further goals was not a concern for the visitors.

But Sarr hastened the emptying of seats by nodding home after being teed up by Richarlison in the 89th minute.

Tottenham splashed out £52million to sign Xavi Simons in the summer transfer window and are yet to see the Dutchman's best, much like Liverpool with Florian Witz

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank says Xavi Simons will need time to settle, just like Florian Wirtz following his record move to Liverpool.

Spurs paid RB Leipzig £52million to sign Simons after missing out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White. The Dutchman was also courted by Chelsea and arrived in the Premier League with a good reputation, having contributed 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 appearances for Leipzig.

But he has made a sluggish start for Tottenham, with just one assist in eight appearances so far – and that came from a corner in his first match on September 13. His slow start is comparable to Wirtz, who is yet to record a single goal contribution in 10 games for Liverpool after they paid Bayer Leverkusen £116m for his services.

"I think that's a very good question and also a very good comparison with Wirtz," Frank said when presented with the comparison in a press conference before Spurs play Monaco on Wednesday. “Also a very good player, just like Xavi, a very good player. Coming into a new country, a new club, new city. [They] just need to settle in.

“And it is part of it. We're all getting judged every game but we also need to see the little bit bigger perspective and see it over time. I always look for glimpses and bits of pieces we're working at.

“For example, Xavi, I think there were some good bits. Worked with him and asked him more to be arriving in the box, which when I looked at the game back he did. Was there the big eye-catching moment? No. But there were good glimpses so I think it's constantly going a bit in the right direction.”

Both Simons and Wirtz are playmakers who have been fielded in a No.10 position without much success so far. Liverpool play Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday night following a run of four straight defeats.

Wirtz came off the bench in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United and played in central midfield, but once again couldn’t make an impact. He started the Reds’ last Champions League game, against Galatasaray, but has only been used off the bench since then.

Nevertheless, Arne Slot has hinted that he could be handed a start in Frankfurt. “Special for Florian [Wirtz] as well to go back to Germany and play there,” he said.

“Special for Jeremie Frimpong because he was also, like Florian and like Hugo [Ekitike], so successful in Germany. For the three of them, it's nice to play in Germany again.”

What TV channel is Monaco vs Tottenham on - Live stream, kick-off time and team news

Tottenham Hotspur will look to bounce back from a Premier League defeat as they take on Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bounce back from a disappointing Premier League defeat as they switch their focus back to European duties.

The north London outfit suffered their second home defeat of the season on Sunday, falling to a 2-1 loss against Aston Villa. Despite taking an early lead through Rodrigo Bentancur, a stunning strike from Morgan Rogers levelled the scoreline before half-time.

Just when it seemed like both teams were set to share the points, Emiliano Buendia came off the bench to make the perfect impact, his left-footed shot from outside the box finding the back of Guglielmo Vicario's net.

Spurs have managed just one win in their last four league outings, but they have the chance to redeem themselves with an away clash against Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday. They've made an unbeaten start to their return to Europe's premier competition, with a 1-0 victory over Villarreal and a 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt.

Their Ligue 1 opponents are also struggling for form, without a win in their last three matches and yet to record a victory in Europe after two games. The last time these two sides met was in November 2016 in Monaco, where the home side secured a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Djibril Sidibe and Thomas Lemar. Here, we provide all the details you need to tune into the upcoming European showdown.

Monaco vs Tottenham kick-off time

The showdown between Monaco and Tottenham is set for Wednesday, 22nd October at Stade Louis II, the home ground of the Ligue 1 side since 1985. The match will kick off at 8pm BST.

How to watch Monaco vs Tottenham

Footie fans can catch all the action on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with coverage of the European clash starting from 7pm BST. Those who have purchased the package that includes TNT Sports will also be able to live stream the match via a discovery+ subscription.

Supporters can subscribe to TNT Sports through every major telly platform, including discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media. Fans across the pond in the US can also tune into the fixture with Paramount+ being the home for all Champions League games.

Monaco vs Spurs live stream details

The match can be streamed on the discovery+ app as well as on the online player. Meanwhile, Virgin Media subscribers will be able to stream the match on the Virgin TV Go app.

Team news

The Premier League side are hoping that Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie will be fit for the trip to the principality after they were both pulled out late from the squad that lost to Aston Villa over the weekend. It's likely that Kevin Danso and Djed Spence will keep their spot in the starting line-up on Wednesday.

With Mathys Tel still not eligible due to Thomas Frank's decision not to include him in his Champions League squad for the league phase, it's expected that Richarlison will lead the line. Randal Kolo Muani is still working on his match fitness.

Lucas Bergvall and Pape Matar Sarr, who were late substitutes against the Villans, could be in the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Monaco are dealing with their own injury problems. Former Spurs star Eric Dier is set to miss the clash against his old club due to a hamstring injury.

Captain Denis Zakaria, Vanderson and Christian Mawissa will also sit out the game. Paul Pogba continues his training to regain match fitness, having yet to make his debut for the club since his June transfer.

All the latest news from Tottenham Hotspur as Thomas Frank's side prepare to face Monaco in the Champions League

Tottenham Hotspur will face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday evening with Thomas Frank looking to get his side back to winning ways. Spurs missed out on the chance to go second in the Premier League on Sunday as they fell 2-1 to Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The setback was their second loss in the Premier League since Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou this summer. Villa's Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia cancelled out Rodrigo Bentancur's fifth-minute opener in the shock defeat.

Yet, an ongoing concern will no doubt be the inconsistent home form, despite Spurs having impressed on the road this season. They have just three wins in 18 Premier League games on home turf, although Wednesday will offer a slight reprieve from those woes as they travel to Stade Louis-II for the tie against Monaco.

Some of the latest Spurs news sees Troy Deeney's take on why the team are struggling at home and Micah Richards and Gary Lineker discussing one tweak Frank could make to get back to winning ways, while the Lewis family have also made a fresh appointment to the Spurs board. Mirror Football takes a look at all you need to know.

£1billion problem called out

Troy Deeney has suggested that Spurs' state-of-the-art arena, which cost in excess of £1billion to build, could be one of the reasons why the team is struggling for form in north London. Spurs have won one home game so far this season, against Burnley on the opening weekend.

Since then they have been beaten 1-0 by Bournemouth, held 1-1 by Wolves and, most recently, succumbed to Villa 2-1, all at home. Deeney said: “Last year, obviously, they were concentrating on Europe, which was the excuse, but what happens is that it starts to bleed into this year.

"Now, you’ve got to try to stem the tide and try to make it a fortress. The problem is, it’s such a nice ground that everyone enjoys going there, so when you have those moments to put the ball in the box and make it nervous, they’ve got to do that and they’ve got to kill teams.”

Asked about Spurs' recent failings at home, Frank told the club's official website: "I think it's about looking into the performances. I think we performed well against Burnley, I think we performed well again today. I think we had one very good first half against Wolves and then we had a bad game against Bournemouth."

On the role the fans can play, the Dane added: "I think the fans were good. I think they helped what they could and I think we, in moments, looked exciting and in moments we could have done a little bit better."

Frank told he's getting it wrong with Tel

Former Leicester star Lineker and ex-Man City defender Richards have claimed that Frank is using Mathys Tel all wrong by playing the Frenchman upfront. The 20-year-old was signed on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich in the summer.

This followed a loan spell under Postecoglou last season. However, despite scoring his first Premier League goal for Tottenham away at Leeds, Tel struggled against Villa. Lineker and Richards think they know why, suggesting the player is more comfortable out wide.

Lineker said on the Stick to Football podcast: “Thought Tel struggled a little to make an impact, and a lot of the times because, obviously, I look at this side of football, when they played a really high line like Villa did today with not necessarily that much pressure on the ball.

“I’ve said before, I don’t mind when players get offside, but he was going so early. He wasn’t just offside – he was like five yards offside most of the time. He needs a little bit of work.

"I preferred him perhaps on the left-hand side when I’m seeing him play there. But he wasn’t making the natural runs of a striker that understands how to beat an offside trap, which is not that difficult when a team plays such a high line with no pressure on the ball.”

Tel has stated in the past that he's "somewhere between a number nine and a left winger." Richards, however, concurred with Lineker, adding: “Exactly that. I echo your thoughts as well. I like him better off the left.

"But in terms of what Thomas Frank was trying to do, there’s a clip or an image of him when they got the goal – he was so happy with the way they pressed. He wants pace, he wants mobility, and in terms of Tel, he’s done alright in recent weeks, but I don’t think he’s a natural number nine. He doesn’t look like it yet, but he’s very young and can learn.”

Tottenham confirm appointment

Spurs have confirmed the appointment of Dan Lewindon as the club's new performance director. A statement from Spurs' sporting director Johan Lange said: "We are delighted that Dan will be joining us as performance director.

“He was the standout candidate and brings a wealth of experience across a wide range of team and individual sports, working in high-performance environments with elite athletes.

“Dan also has a strong academic background and his expertise will be hugely beneficial to us as we drive this area of the club with innovative thinking. We look forward to Dan starting.”

Lewindon will reportedly be responsible for the medical, sports science, nutrition and psychology departments across all teams at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He had worked with the City Football Group since 2022.

Prior to that he was the lead physio at Northampton Saints rugby team before becoming the senior physio. He has also worked with the Lawn Tennis Association

Ex-Chelsea and Arsenal stars brawl in intense boxing fight as dig at Tottenham is fired

Amid the weekend's Premier League action, a wide variety of former stars of the division locked horns in a charity boxing event hosted by Pro Project Promotions.

Ex-Chelsea player and assistant boss Jody Morris triumphed over ex-Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur star David Bentley at a charity boxing match. Morris, 46, served as Frank Lampard's right-hand man during the current Coventry City manager's initial spell at Stamford Bridge, where they reached the FA Cup final and finished in the top four, despite having a transfer ban.

Four years on from Lampard's sacking, Morris, who also had a brief stint managing Swindon Town, traded the football pitch for the boxing ring to compete on Pro Project Promotions' charity fight card against Bentley.

The event was organised to raise funds for charities like Playskill, Sport In Mind, Willow Foundation, and Helping Hands, with a target of generating £500,000. It proved to be a thrilling evening of boxing entertainment, with the likes of Peter Crouch amongst those in attendance.

The card - held at the Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair - was put together by former Arsenal and Millwall goalkeeper Graham Stack, who also convinced Curtis Davies, Leroy Lita, Paddy Kenny and numerous others to step into the ring.

Yet the main event was the showdown between Morris and Bentley, former Chelsea and Spurs stars respectively. The two Londoners reignited their historic rivalry, but went to battle with boxing gloves instead of football boots.

On this particular evening, it was the Blues who emerged victorious, with Morris declared the winner after three rounds. Following the fight, the former Chelsea youth coach found a way to have a dig at Tottenham and Arsenal.

After the fight, he said: "I was absolutely f*****! You don't realise how much that the adrenaline will take out of you. Obviously, I've worked fairly hard for the last seven-eight weeks. I was pleased I did, otherwise I'd have been out on my feet."

He also made a cheeky reference to Bentley's former clubs, chuckling: "Spurs have tried for ages, but they always get folded up by the Chels. But let's not forget he was Arsenal as well so that was Arsenal and Spurs in one night."

Bentley congratulated Morris on his victory as he confessed that he found the bout to be a tough challenge. The ex-Gunner, who hung up his boots at just 29-years-old, also hinted he will likely not box again.

The now 41-year-old said: "I feel great getting in the ring, fighting Jody what a great guy he is. But getting into the ring, I think that I'm better at promoting boxing than I am actually boxing.

"But I wanted to actually get in the ring - and it was about raising money for charity. That's what it's all about. Congratulations to Jody. Thank God I didn't go down, I wouldn't have got back up!"

Morris managed to keep Bentley at bay with some solid jabs, while also landing some massive overhead right hands on the former England international. Bentley, trained by ex-world champion Kevin Mitchell, struggled to penetrate Morris's defence and land any significant blows of his own.

However, the entire event was conducted in good spirits, culminating in the two ex-players from rival teams sharing a warm embrace in the ring.

Thomas Frank has paid tribute to the Lewis family after they recently pumped £100m into Tottenham following the shock departure of Daniel Levy

Thomas Frank insists he's top dog at Tottenham - despite a major off-field shakeup. This week, the returning Fabio Paratici was unveiled as the club's new joint sporting director alongside Johan Lange. However, Frank has made it clear he'll still need to ratify all major transfer decisions moving forward, explaining ahead of tomorrow's clash with Aston Villa : "I'll always have the final say. You know that but of course, in the end, it's teamwork."

It's highly likely there will be plenty of international deliberation over new signings after the Lewis family injected an initial £100million in new capital into Spurs earlier this month. More cash could yet follow, too. Unsurprisingly, Frank values the reiteration of their long-term commitment to a club that is striving to fulfil its potential as a global force. The Dane added: "First and foremost, I think it's hugely positive that the Lewis family is clearly showing their interest in doing everything they can to improve the club and back the club as they want us to be as successful as possible. I think that's a sign of it, that they are injecting cash into the club."

Meanwhile, Frank has backed Tottenham's decision to bring "good guy" Paratici back in an official working capacity just weeks after a judge in Rome accepted a plea bargain, meaning he did not have to serve an 18-month prison sentence for false accounting.

Frank added when quizzed on Paratici's chequered past: "I think it's something, of course, I've heard about. I don't know too much about the details but I know Fabio as a good guy from the times I've met him. I think he's got a lot of quality and I look forward to working with him."

On the field, Frank is bidding to end a managerial hoodoo for the second successive match this weekend. Prior to the international break, he beat Daniel Farke for the first time in six meetings.

In five attempts, Frank has never beaten Unai Emery's Villa (two draws, three defeats) - it's the most the Dane has ever faced an opposition manager without victory. The Spurs boss has also won just one of his previous eight top-flight games against the Villains, his joint-lowest win percentage against any Premier League side (12.5 per cent).

His ranks will, however, be bolstered by the return of France international forward Randal Kolo Muani following a dead leg. The Paris Saint-Germain loanee has played just 13 minutes since arriving in N17 but he is now back in training.

Frank explained: "Kolo Muani has trained now for two weeks with the team, so that's good. He looks better and better, he'll be in contention for the squad so that's positive.

"I think Kolo is a very good player and I'm very excited that we managed to sign him. I'm really looking forward to having him play some consistent minutes and hopefully he'll show what he's capable of."

The clash comes too soon for Dominic Solanke, who is back out on the grass in light training following a minor surgical procedure on his ankle. Frank said of Solanke: "Dom is a naturally fit player. We need to take into consideration that he hasn't trained with the team since July. It will take him a little bit of time to get up to pace."

Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, and Thomas Frank could be without as many as six players for the visit of Unai Emery's side

Thomas Frank has provided an injury update on three players ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash against Aston Villa. The Lilywhites will host Unai Emery's squad in north London on Sunday afternoon as they look to climb the Premier League.

Mohamed Kudus was the hero last time out, netting the winner in a 2-1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road. Spurs continued their excellent vein of form and leapfrogged Crystal Palace into third place.

Since losing 1-0 to Bournemouth on home soil at the end of August, the Lilywhites have put together an impressive seven-match unbeaten run across all competitions. Aston Villa, too, have been in fine form, notching four consecutive victories.

Dominic Solanke remains sidelined with an ankle injury, but Frank could finally hand a Premier League debut to one of his summer signings. Speaking to journalists at the club's training ground on Friday afternoon, he 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."

James Maddison is still sidelined with a knee injury following his anterior cruciate ligament rupture during Spurs' pre-season tour of Asia. Dejan Kulusevski, who underwent knee surgery in May, and Kota Takai, who picked up a plantar fascia injury in his foot over the summer, are also ruled out.

Radu Dragusin suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of the year. In September, Frank suggested it would be 'a few weeks' before the defender could be considered for selection again.

Aston Villa might also be missing one or two key players this weekend. Ollie Watkins picked up a leg injury during England's victory over Wales last week and was substituted at half-time.

When quizzed about the striker's situation, Emery hinted that he'll be fit to face Spurs. He said: "Tomorrow we will train again, normally he will be ready for Sunday."

On Emiliano Buendia and Jadon Sancho, Emery confirmed: "Both have trained normally and will be available for Sunday in case they train well tomorrow."

Tyrone Mings, though, faces a late fitness test. The Villa boss said: "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 may be out for another four weeks due to a calf injury. The midfielder, who's been absent in each of Villa's last six games, experienced a setback in his recovery earlier this month.

Andres Garcia is yet to make an appearance for Emery's squad this season. The defender was seen in training before the season opener against Newcastle United, and again ahead of the Bologna clash.

Ange Postecoglou has been speaking at length about his time at Nottingham Forest and his previous job at Tottenham Hotspur as he looks to silence his doubters

Nottingham Forest manager Ange Postecoglou has defiantly responded to his critics, promising that his tenure at the club will culminate in success, given enough time.

The Reds' head coach's future has been a hot topic during the international break. Since taking over, the club has gone seven matches without a win. The upcoming home match against Chelsea on Saturday (12.30pm kick-off) is set to be a critical test for him.

Many Forest supporters expressed their dissatisfaction with the 60-year-old during the team's last home game. As the hosts suffered a 3-2 loss to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League, chants from the City Ground crowd called for his dismissal and sang praises of his predecessor, Nuno Espirito Santo.

However, Postecoglou has urged those questioning his ability to turn around the Reds' fortunes to consider his track record at his former club, Tottenham Hotspur. He feels his achievement of securing a fifth-place finish in his debut year in London often goes unnoticed.

In a fiery response to his detractors during an extensive pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend's fixture, the Greek-born Australian passionately defended his position. When asked about the speculation and pressure surrounding his role, he provided a nearly five-minute-long reply, reports Nottinghamshire Live.

"Look, I guess from my perspective I just don't fit," Postecoglou said. "Not here, just in general. If you look at it through the prism of I'm a failed manager who's lucky to get this job - I know you're smirking at me, but that's what's being said, right, and I can find the print where that's actually said - then of course these first five weeks look like, this guy is under pressure.

"There is an alternative story that you can look at. I came to the Premier League two years ago, I took over Tottenham - 'Spursy' Tottenham. I was told by the chairman at the time that this club has to win a trophy. Has to win a trophy.

"He said, we've tried to bring winners in - Jose (Mourinho) and Antonio (Conte) - and it hasn't worked, we need something different. I was slightly offended by that because I see myself as a winner.

"Took over the Spurs that had finished eighth. Big club, no European football. Can't go two years without European football.

"We finished fifth in my first year. Every time Harry Kane scores a goal I wish he'd just stayed one more year, because it would have been handy to have him after finishing fifth.

"But somehow that year has disappeared from the record books. In fact, it was used as a reason for me losing my job because even Tottenham decided to exclude the first 10 games, because they were an anomaly, apparently. Although the first 10 games here are very important, apparently. Anyway, we finished fifth and I got them back into European football, which a club like Tottenham should be.

"Again, I was in meetings and people who are still at that club were in those meetings, where I was told winning a trophy is everything for this football club. That's fine.

"We win a trophy (the Europa League). We shed the tag of being 'Spursy'. It's Champions League football, which brings some rewards and the opportunity to bring in better players.

"But all I've heard since I've finished at Tottenham is that we finished 17th last year. So if you look at it from that prism of we finished 17th, then, yeah, I'm a failed manager who's lucky to get another opportunity.

"But again, if I have to explain why we finished 17th, really, it doesn't have to be too in-depth. Just have a look at the last five or six teamsheets of us in the league last year and see what I prioritised - who was on the bench and who was playing.

"The last game, against Brighton, the players were out partying for two days, which I sanctioned because I felt they deserved to. So yes, we finished 17th. If people think that's a reflection of me and my coaching, then, again, I think they're looking at it through the prism of I just don't fit.

"So, we get to the current space where there's a different story to tell, that maybe I'm not a failed manager who was lucky to get this job, but maybe I'm a manager that if you give them time, the story always ends the same. At all my previous clubs, it ends the same - with me and a trophy.

"So, just to finish up - and it's a long-winded answer, which probably won't get any coverage, but that's okay - you can look at this first five weeks and say, he's under pressure because he was lucky to get this job. Or you can look at it and say, well, there's been a major change.

"I am trying to change the way we play. The players are adapting, but there's inconsistency in there, for sure. But some will look at the weeds, I'll look at what's growing.

"The flip side of that is that I'm really still excited about the opportunity here. I've got a group of young players who are willing to change, which is the first thing, and I'm heading down that road.

"The rest of it, whether people don't want to see... and all I said were not opinion, they were just facts. That's just where we're sitting.

"I'm not going to waste my time or my energy worrying about that. And whether that's internal or external, I couldn't care less. At the end of the day, I will do what I think is the right thing to do to bring success to this football club, and that's what I'm focused on."