BBC

There is no new injury updates from their 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough last Friday.

Mason is "disappointed" by the past two results after two losses has left them outside the top six but says the side "worked well this week" and are hoping to stop the rot against the Foxes.

On Leicester's Harry Winks, who Mason worked with while at former club Tottenham Hotspur: "When you're academy player and someone has walked the steps you want to take, it's something you aspire to. I have a really good relationship with Harry, I have had a good relationship with Skippy [Oliver Skipp, also a former Spurs player] too.

"They've both had really good careers to play for Tottenham, it's not an easy thing to do. Now they are at Leicester and I'm sure they are determined to put in a performance and hopefully our players will put in a performance to overshadow that."

Mason confirmed that strikers Josh Maja and Aune Heggbo could potentially both start "at some point" having largely favoured only one striker this term.

He said: "They've got different attributes, currently they are only fit strikers so that comes into the thinking as well. Josh has a massive part to play in this team for the whole of this season and we are looking forward to it when he does."

Tottenham Hotspur have lost four of their last five league meetings with Wolves (D1) since a 1-0 victory in August 2022, conceding 2+ goals in each of their last four against them.

Wolves have only lost two of their last eight Premier League visits to Tottenham Hotspur (W4 D2), avoiding defeat in their most recent two (W1 D1).

Wolves have lost all five of their Premier League games this season, with only three sides ever losing each of their first six in a single campaign (Portsmouth 2009-10, Crystal Palace 2017-18, Norwich 2021-22).

Tottenham have earned 10 points in their five Premier League games under Thomas Frank so far (W3 D1 L1), double the amount they won in their final 12 games under Ange Postecoglou (W1 D2 L9).

Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against sides starting the day bottom of the table (W12 D3). However, each of their last five such defeats have come against teams starting with the letter ‘W’ (West Bromwich Albion x3, Wigan x1, West Ham x1).

Only Liverpool (7) have scored more second half goals in the Premier League than Tottenham (6) this season, while Spurs are the only side yet to concede after half-time.

Wolves have been trailing at half-time in each of their last nine Premier League games – no team has ever gone into the interval behind in 10 consecutive matches before.

Tottenham have scored 10 goals from an xG of 6.1 in the Premier League this season – only Liverpool (11 goals, 7 xG) have overperformed their expected goals more than Spurs (3.9).

All three of Mohammed Kudus’ Premier League assists for Tottenham Hotspur this season have been for Richarlison. It’s the most any player has assisted another so far this term, while only Jack Grealish (4) has more assists overall.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank, speaking after the 3-0 win over Doncaster: "I'm happy with the win, happy with the clean sheet and very happy we're in the hat for the next round – that was the aim.

"I thought the first half was good. I thought we started well, created chances, up 2-0 and could have scored one or two goals more.

"The second half was more disjointed. We threw the ball away too easily, the pressure was not top and Doncaster did well. Always respect the opponent that made it difficult - they either dropped short or played long, but in the end, we did the job.

"We always want to stay on top in all games, but that's why it's so complicated. There is an opponent who also wants to play. It's never that easy. Overall, I'm happy with a convincing win.

"We needed to make enough changes, but not too many, and try to get them in the right positions. That's the challenge. We all know, as I say all the time, if we're going to play 60-plus games this season, we need to be really good at nailing that - making the right amount of changes per game."

Premier League champions Liverpool will play FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Holders Newcastle United host Tottenham in another all-Premier League tie while Arsenal, who have not won the competition since 1993, face Brighton.

Grimsby Town, the only League Two side still standing and conquerors of Manchester United, get another home tie against Premier League Brentford.

And with three Welsh sides in the last 16 for the first time, it was perhaps inevitable there would be an all-Welsh clash as Wrexham host Cardiff City, with 2013 winners Swansea handed a tie against Manchester City.

It will be the first meeting between Wrexham and Cardiff since 2002.

Pedro Porro, Rodrigo Bentancur, Palhinha and Wilson Odobert are the only players to retain a starting role for Tottenham following Saturday's 2-2 draw at Brighton.

Goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky makes his first start of the season with Kevin Danso, Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel, Archie Gray, Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence also coming in.

Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Danso, Porro, Spence, Gray, Bentancur, Palhinha, Simons, Odobert, Tel, Johnson.

Subs: Austin, Richarlison, Udogie, Bergvall, Van de Ven, Scarlett, Thompson, Byfield, Williams-Barnett.

League One Doncaster have already pulled off an upset in this season's Carabao Cup - beating Championship side Middlesbrough - and boss Grant McCann makes nine changes after losing against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Centre-back Jay McGrath and midfielder Owen Bailey are the only two to hold on to their starting berth.

Damola Ajayi is on loan from Tottenham but has been given permission to feature against his parent club.

Doncaster XI: Lawlor, Bailey, McGrath, Sbarra, Nixon, Middleton, Ajayi, Senior Grehan, Olusanya, Close.

Tottenham might just stay in the conversation this time.

They dropped points at Brighton but were dominant on the day. They have their mojo back under Thomas Frank and, of the players he inherited, Lucas Bergvall has arguably made the biggest leap forward.

Some players just need to know the manager believes in them to suddenly become an even better player and a more forceful presence. Spurs have won three and drawn one when Bergvall has started - losing the two when he did not.

Problems still exist. That dangerous high defensive line deployed by Ange Postecoglou is also part of the new regime's method, so work needs to be done there.

Richarlison scored, worked hard and showed some quality moments, but Spurs lost a goal when he went down following a fairly innocuous challenge.

When you are not given the foul and it is not a head knock, you must try to get up and help the team by hobbling back into position, if you possibly can. He did not and they lost a goal.

I have watched a few others doing the same thing this season and it is very dangerous for the team if you do not get back up quickly.

Spurs could not complain, as they won possession back and still did not put it out of play, which they would have if they really thought their mate needed treatment.

I suspect Thomas Frank will have a quiet word in private with his striker!

Frank confirmed "everyone available last time is available again" after Saturday's draw at Brighton, though the Doncaster game comes "just too soon" for Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies, who have "minor injuries".

Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai are "progressing" and trained with the team on Tuesday.

On Dejan Kulusevski's recovery: "Of course, Kulusevski is a top player. I have always liked him when I saw him from afar. He is a key player for us and a key player for me. Instead of putting an exact month, I just want him back as soon as possible. It's not tomorrow, but hopefully it's not too far away."

Frank is keen to give his young players minutes: "It will be a great opportunity to have some of the young ones on the bench. It's a privilege to be able to give someone a debut. Obviously, they have to show it in the under-18s, under-21s, national team and with us to get the opportunity."

However, he stressed the importance of taking the Carabao Cup seriously: "I would like us to compete in all four tournaments across the year. If you're going to do that, you need to pick the right team all the time. Every time we put a team out there it is super strong. We need to hit that perfect number of players that rotate and a strong team."

More on rotation: "There will be some rotation but there should be, with all respect to Doncaster. They have Grant McCann, who I know very well. He is a very good guy and we need to respect his team, but we need to play to our highest level and get to the next round."

His target is to win the trophy: "I don't know any coach or manager or player that doesn't want to compete and try to win. We are really looking forward to going into the Carabao Cup tomorrow and will do everything we can to try to win it. We play for that."

On the decision to allow Doncaster's on-loan Damola Ajayi to play against his parent club: "We decided to loan him out because it is good for his development. We weren't that lucky to face one of our own players. It is a great opportunity for him."

As you will see on the page below, we've been debating Richarlison's role after the striker was the focus of our fan contributor's column this week.

We dug into some data too but here are some of your comments on how the Brazilian should be used:

Gregg: Got to remember Solanke is injured. When he returns Richarlison will probably go to the bench. He's a solid rotation player and he had a great game in the Europa League final so he's shown his worth.

Tony: Richarlison frustrates me every time I watch him. Extremely hard working, he simply misses too many chances for a top player. Frank has done an amazing job in boosting his self confidence but I can't wait for the alternatives to come back.

Dave: It's curious - every time I have written him off, Richie does something that earns him a temporary reprieve. Scores an occasional goal, defends well or just makes a nuisance of himself and he'll get a seven in the player rankings versus his usual four or five. But overall, he's just not fast, skillful or tactically astute enough for this team. Opponents don't view him as a real threat. There were some great targets for us over the summer. We have to get it right in the New Year.

Senior players in line for starting chance?

Huddersfield v Man City (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Manchester City

Defenders Nathan Ake and John Stones, utility players Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes, holding midfielder Nico Gonzalez and forwards Oscar Bobb and Savinho were all on the bench for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Arsenal.

It is likely the majority could be in line for a recall to the starting line-up for Wednesday's third-round Carabao Cup tie in west Yorkshire against a Huddersfield Town side currently fifth in League One.

Is EFL Cup now a ‘waste of energy’ for Guardiola’s City?

Tom McCoy

BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City dominated the League Cup during the early years of Pep Guardiola’s reign, lifting the trophy in four of his first five seasons in charge.

Remarkably, City won 21 consecutive ties in the competition between 2017 and 2021 (with two-legged semi-finals counted as a single ‘tie’). But it has been a different story since then, with Guardiola’s team losing four of their subsequent seven EFL Cup games.

That is partly a result of shifting priorities. The City manager said 12 months ago he didn’t intend to “waste energy” in the competition and would instead field his “second team”, vowing to prioritise the Premier League and Champions League.

The Spaniard still picked a fairly strong side for last season’s fourth-round exit to Tottenham, albeit he didn’t risk star striker Erling Haaland, keeping him on the bench.

With City having taken part in this summer’s Club World Cup and the expanded Champions League format also meaning more matches, Guardiola will be acutely aware of the need to manage the minutes played by his squad and reduce the risk of late-season burnout.

'This win is not for me, it's for Manchester City'

Manchester City

After failing to win a trophy in his first season, it's remarkable to think that Pep Guardiola could have been feeling the pressure when he took Manchester City to the first final of his reign.

In February 2018, just the week before, Guardiola's side was humbled by Wigan in the FA Cup.

That 1-0 defeat at the Latics was a rarity in that season, and City would go on to finish the campaign on a high, adding their first of six Premier League titles under Guardiola.

But there is no doubt that the Spaniard was feeling the pressure to get his City side off the mark.

As it was, he needn't have worried, with goals from Sergio Aguero, Vincent Kompany and David Silva sweeping aside Arsene Wenger's Gunners in a 3-0 win at Wembley.

"It was so important we won this after going out of the FA Cup," said Guardiola after the win.

"Now we have to focus absolutely on the Premier League and trying to win the games we need to win the title.

"This win is not for me, it's for Manchester City."

And with that, Pep Guardiola's reign at the Etihad had lift-off.

Guardiola's Carabao Cup record

Pep Guardiola's record in the Carabao Cup has been outstanding since he took the reins at Manchester City.

He won the competition in 2017-18 during his second full season, the first of four in a row.

That fourth victory in 2021 remains the last time the club lifted the trophy and in fact, the last time they reached the final.

The furthest they have reached in the competition since that medal in 2021 was the 2022-23 season, where they lost 2-0 to Southampton in the quarter-finals.

Most recently, in the last campaign, they reached the fourth round but were defeated 2-1 by Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur.

'Interesting to see Pep's approach going forward'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Martin: Hi Phil. Did Pep Guardiola show on Sunday he is trying to make his team harder to beat than last season? And why has all the talk been about Arsenal and United even though Manchester City got two good results?

Hello, Martin. It was certainly a more pragmatic approach, although not sure even Pep Guardiola enjoyed it, especially when Arsenal equalised in stoppage time.

The great managers adapt and I think there were times last season when City were a little too easy to get at, especially with Rodri absent, so Guardiola clearly adopted a more solid defensive approach at Arsenal.

This may also have been shaped by two defeats, one at home to Spurs and then away to Brighton. No matter how great managers are, and we are talking an all-time great here, they are not above reacting to results and situations.

Guardiola was only a couple of minutes away from pulling off a big win. Will now be interesting to see his approach going forward.

'Sterling is exiled at Chelsea until January'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Gav: Hi Phil, What’s the latest news on Raheem Sterling? Would Chelsea be willing/able to loan him ‘for free’ to another London club such as QPR [he wants to stay with his family in London] so that he can keep match fit and get first team football?

Hello, Gav. I think he is exiled at Chelsea until January at the earliest. It is not an ideal situation for player or club because Enzo Maresca could not have made it clearer he will not be involved any more at Chelsea.

'Dembele was a very worthy winner'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Harry: Hi Phil - Ballon d'Or related, I *think* Dembele was the clear winner. However, I see a lot of us PL fans complaining about "Should have been Salah". Do you think we are too dismissive of other leagues even when those teams/players beat four of our best in Europe's hardest competition?

Morning, Harry. We all know how partisan football fans are. They always favour their own players in awards and often do not like it when they go elsewhere.

I believe Dembele was a very worthy winner. He produced outstanding performances in an outstanding PSG team that won the biggest prize in European club football in the most spectacular style.

Not sure too many can mount a serious complaint,

'Spurs forward line will be perfectly fine'

Q&A with Phil

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Tom: Hi Phil, do you think there's an element of over-reacting to Spurs front line right now? There's been numerous columns written about "Where will Spurs goals come from?" but we've scored the same as Arsenal in the league and lost just once, and no one's worried about their goals.

Hi, Tom. I didn’t even realise this was a debate. I think the Spurs forward line will be perfectly fine when everyone is fit and bedded in.

I think it has been a promising start to the season and goals have been scored, so I would not be too concerned on that score.

'Will take more than a new manager to transform West Ham'

Q&A with Phil McNulty

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Chris: Hi Phil - it does not matter if West Ham appointed Jurgen Klopp as the manager, the owners would keep on selling the family silver, getting free transfers and injury-prone and sub-standard players. They have sold us down the river with the stadium move - what's your take on this? Thank you.

I do think it would matter a lot if Jurgen Klopp was appointed as West Ham United manager but I take your overall point.

I can see exactly why West Ham United fans are disappointed with the stadium because, in truth, it is an athletics stadium and does not work as a football arena. It is as far away from Upton Park for atmosphere as you can get. I have been to Everton’s new home by the Mersey waterfront twice and that is a magnificent, purpose-built football stadium.

I have noticed many West Ham fans pointing out the difference.

West Ham have also been hit by so many poor football decisions, such as managerial choices and signings.

As someone who went to Upton Park so many times and absolutely loved it, I feel your pain.

Graham Potter is clearly in real peril, but you do feel it will take more than just a change of manager (again) to transform West Ham’s fortunes.

'The Ballon d'Or is such a subjective thing'

Q&A with Phil McNulty

Phil McNulty

BBC Sport chief football writer

Liz: Hi Phil, there seemed to be two different standards at last night’s Ballon d’Or. Bonmati won as she was the outstanding individual. Dembele won as he played for PSG winning the Champions League. Working on that principle Alessia Russo or Lucy Bronze should have won the woman’s award. Your thoughts?

Morning, Liz. I must admit I thought Alessia Russo had a really strong claim to win the Ballon d’Or but it’s such a subjective thing. She would have every right to be disappointed.

As for Dembele, I have no problem at all with that because I happened to see quite a lot of PSG last season and thought he was a fitting winner on both counts, as he gave outstanding individual performances in an outstanding team that won the Champions League.

Emery ally Monchi set to leave Aston Villa

Nick Mashiter

BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa's president of football operations Monchi is poised to leave the club.

The 56-year-old's imminent departure comes with Villa 18th in the Premier League after a winless start to the season.

Monchi joined Villa in 2023 from Spanish side Sevilla, where he had been sporting director, having previously worked with Villa boss Unai Emery at the La Liga club.

The pair took Villa to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and secured a Champions League place as they finished fourth in the Premier League that season.

They went on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals last season, being knocked out by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Villa have started poorly this season, failing to win any of their opening five league games and scoring just once.

They were also knocked out of the EFL Cup on penalties by Brentford last week.

Sunderland's record signing Diarra has groin surgery

Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra has been ruled out until December after having an operation to resolve a groin injury.

The 21-year-old Senegal international suffered the problem during training before the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

Sunderland said Diarra had "successful" surgery on Monday.

Diarra joined the Black Cats from Strasbourg in July in a deal worth a reported club record £30m.

He played in each of Sunderland's four Premier League games prior to the Villa match, while he also made two appearances for Senegal in September.

Newcastle's standout defence

Matthew Hobbs

BBC Sport

Newcastle may be struggling to score goals in the Premier League this season following the departure of Alexander Isak to Liverpool but their defence has been rock solid.

Eddie Howe’s side have kept a league-high four clean sheets in five matches. The Magpies have only conceded three goals in the league so far, all of which came in the loss to Liverpool when the visitors scored twice after Newcastle had gone down to 10 men.

Newcastle also have the lowest expected goals tally against (2.6) of any Premier League team so far this season, have faced the fewest shots (37) and are yet to make an error leading to a goal.

Their almost flawless defence has been particularly useful on the road, earning three points in goalless draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth.

Should Newcastle’s attack start to click in conjunction with their defensive solidity, the Magpies should start to climb the Premier League table.

Richarlison is an enigma.

So much so, the top scorer so far of the Thomas Frank era at Spurs was described by our fan writer Ali Speechly on this page today as the side's 'weakest link'.

The Brazil striker has scored three goals from an expected goals [xG] of 1.64 so far in the Premier League this season - giving him the highest xG over-performance in the division.

Going back, he has scored 14 goals in his last 18 league starts, averaged a goal every two league starts across his time the Lilywhites, and averaged 0.51 goals per 90 in the top-flight.

However, five games into his fourth season in North London, since signing for £60m from Everton in 2022, he has just not been available for selection enough of the time to ever be considered Spurs' main man. Hamstring and calf problems, coupled with inconsistent performances and perceived petulance have held him back.

Of players to have scored 15 or more Premier League goals since the start of the 2022-23 season, Richarlison has the 11th best minutes per goal record (176.2).

But, of the 119 Premier League matches Tottenham have played since his arrival, Richarlison has been available for 80 of them.

He has featured in 75 of those 80 matches but has started just 38 times.

The 36 games he has missed through various injuries make up almost a full season.

The run of 14 goals in his last 18 starts began in December 2023.

This is, of course, a World Cup year and the Brazil starting striker position has been far from nailed down for some time.

Since his return to national team action after missing over a year with injury, Richarlison has started two and featured in all four of Brazil's last four matches in World Cup qualification.

Fellow Premier League star Joao Pedro at London rivals Chelsea provides some direct and local competition, but the 28-year-old still retains credit for his three-goal showing at Qatar 2022 - including a memorable overhead kick against Serbia.

There will be stronger competition for a place in Frank's starting XI going forward, with Dominic Solanke close to returning from an ankle injury and new signing Randal Kolo Muani yet to start since arriving in the summer.

But Richarlison has the shirt for now, impressed with his Europa League final performance in May, has scored goals this season, and has the motivation to perform.

As long as he can stay fit.