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A look at the pundit predictions for Tottenham’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa.

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Tottenham are back in action on Saturday when they face an Aston Villa side looking to turn around a disappointing start to the campaign. Spurs have enjoyed a fine start, currently up in third in the Premier League, and Thomas Frank will be delighted with how quickly he has got his side looking resolute following a disappointing season of last for the club, at least in the Premier League.

Spurs beat Leeds United last time out and remarkably, they are only two points from leaders Arsenal. Few are expecting Tottenham to have title ambitions this season, but if they can continue their top four form, it would put them ahead of the curve in terms of where they were expected to be this season.

As for Villa, they will have had top four ambitions having finished in the European spots for the last two seasons, but they are down in 13th despite beating Burnley before the international break. Unai Emery’s men have actually won their last four games across all competitions, and they will be hoping to build on that momentum to put a disappointing league start behind them.

As the two sides prepare to face off on Sunday, we have rounded up the pundit predictions.

Paul Merson

Merson wrote in his SportsKeeda column: “Aston Villa are finally starting to find some form after that nightmare start. The draw against 10-man Sunderland must have stung them quite bad, but since then there has been a solid uptick in form. The only concern for Villa would be the lack of clean sheets, they are still conceding goals.

“Tottenham are doing really well under Thomas Frank. We all know they won't win the league, but I also feel they are going a bit under the radar at the moment. What stood out for me is how they produced a comeback against Brighton. You don't see the Spurs teams of the past doing that to be honest.

“I also like the fact that Frank is very open to the idea of changing his players and his style depending on his opponents. Spurs' defence has also improved and it's not like they have to score five or six goals to win a game. Tottenham will be fighting for fifth or sixth place this term and that's not bad considering their performance last season!

“Having said that, I believe Villa can get something out of this game. If Unai Emery's team play to their full potential, I don't think there will be much to separate these two sides. Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Aston Villa.”

Chris Sutton

Sutton wrote for BBC Sport: “After a slow start to the season, Aston Villa are on a good run of results with four straight wins now. I am still not convinced by their performances, though, and this will be a good test of where Unai Emery's side are really at and whether they have actually turned a corner or not.

“I don't watch Tottenham and feel like they will score a barrel-load of goals, but they have got a good balance to their team and I am backing them to find a way to win this. Prediction: 2-1.”

Another Tottenham star has appeared to have picked up an injury while on international duty.

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The international break has not been overly kind to Tottenham, with another player picking up what looked to be an injury on Monday night. Spurs lost Yves Bissouma to another injury on Sunday, with the midfielder requiring a strettcher to leave the pitch just minutes after coming on for Mali in his first appearance in months following an injury.

It looks as though Bissouma will miss a chunk of time, though we don’t yet have full details of the injury. On Monday night, Wales had the opportunity to take control of their qualifying group, but they were outclassed by Belgium at home.

Former Spurs man Joe Rodon put Wales ahead, but Kevin De Bruyne scored a penaltysoon after, and Thomas Meunier flipped the game on its head. Wales hung around in the game but it was decided when De Bruyne scored a second from the spot in the 76th minute. Nathan broadhead pulled one back late in the game, but Leandro trossard scored almost instantly to keep it out of reach.

The result means Belgium are four points ahead of Wales having played the same number of games and one point ahead of North Macedonia with a game in-hand. The Red Devils don’t have to play any of those two teams again, so they are now likely to be World Cup bound, while Wales and North Macedonia will scrap it out for a playoff spot.

Wales need four points from their last two games to guarantee a play-off spot, facing Liechtenstein away and North Macedonia at home in their final two games.

As for the Belgium games, Tottenham star Ben Davies had a torrid time marky Jeremy Doku, and he went down late in the game, ultimately needing to be replaced due to complaints of an injury. It did not look overly serious, but the Wales captain had to come off, and that would suggest he will be a doubt for Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa.

Spurs players rated

WalesOnline have Davies a 5/10 for his performance, reasoning: “No player made more tackles, but to be honest he was given the runaround by Doku and co on his 100th outing. Subbed.”

As for Brennan Johnson, who came of the bench near the hour-mark, the report added: “Brennan Johnson (on for Brooks 58) - Didn't really have much of an impact - 5.”

Bellamy’s verdict

Speaking after the game, Wales boss Bellamy said of the defeat: “We wanted top spot. Because we go straight through. Straight through to our goal. But I'm aware of where we are, of what the Nations League brought us, and if we finish second we know there's another opportunity.

“But to me, I love playing against top teams. It's so good. Your heart's in your mouth at times and you're really living on the edge. I saw a lot today that made me feel we can get close to these. We need to keep improving and keep tweaking. But I told you at the start when I was going to do this. I'm going to press.

"I'm not sitting back. I know that gets against some people, but this is who I am. Today I saw a team with flaws, because I have them, a team that wants to do something because I want to. I have to compliment the players on that. I'm grateful for that."

All early team news and injury updates as Tottenham Hotspur prepare to face Unai Emery’s Aston Villa on Sunday

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Tottenham Hotspur host Aston Villa on Sunday as Thomas Frank’s side look to continue their surge up the Premier League table under the Dane.

The north Londoners finished in an unforgivable 17th place last season despite winning the Europa League, in a turbulent campaign marred by long-term injuries to several key players. Frank was given the task of a fresh start for the squad when he arrived in the summer.

While a number of first-team stars have sat on the sidelines at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Frank worked to improve his squad as a whole over the summer so that such injury issues would not be as catastrophic. So that has proven, as Spurs are third in the league after seven matches and just two points off arch-rivals Arsenal at the top.

Spurs face fellow regular European challengers Aston Villa next. The Villans made a poor start to the season but four successive wins in all competitions signified a return to form ahead of the international break, while they have not lost in the Premier League since August. Both sides may see several players return to contention for the match.

Randal Kolo Muani - Doubt

Summer signing Kolo Muani is targeting a return to action against Villa after five matches out with a dead leg. He missed France’s World Cup qualifiers in order to focus on his recovery in north London. The PSG loanee has not appeared in the Premier League but featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford on Friday. Frank has yet to confirm whether he will be back in contention on Sunday.

Dominic Solanke - Out

Fellow striker Solanke has also been out since August with an ankle issue. He had surgery in late September and more information is likely to be known after the international break about a potential return date for the Englishman.

Yves Bissouma - Doubt

Despite not being fit enough to feature for Spurs yet this season, Bissouma was nearing a return to full fitness and decided to join up with his native Mali over the international break. Coming on as a substitute against Madagascar, Bissouma was injured in a challenge after mere seconds and promptly forced off on a stretcher, which could prove a bitter blow for both player and club if he is to endure another period on the sidelines.

Dejan Kulusevski - Out

The Swede has been missed so far this season, despite the impressive exploits of new signing Mohammed Kudus. He underwent patella surgery in May and might be back in action before the end of the year, with his return “hopefully not too far away” according to Frank.

James Maddison - Out

Another creative spark whose loss Spurs were forced to compensate for in their summer transfer business, Maddison injured his ACL in pre-season and may not feature for the entirety of the campaign.

Kota Takai - Doubt

Similarly to Kolo Muani, Takai signed for Spurs in the summer but has spent his early months at the club on the sidelines with a foot injury. The 21-year-old Japanese might be in contention to return to the squad on Sunday.

Radu Dragusin - Doubt

Dragusin injured his ACL back in January and has been on a slow road to recovery ever since. Frank said in late September that it would be “a few weeks before he’s able to be involved”, suggesting Dragusin could be back in action against Villa or later in October otherwise.

Ollie Watkins - Doubt

Aston Villa’s biggest bit of team news ahead of the weekend is the fitness of Ollie Watkins. The England striker was forced off during the Three Lions’ victory over Wales after colliding with the post.

It has since been confirmed that Watkins has been ruled out of Tuesday’s qualifier against Latvia and has returned to Villa for assessment. The extent of his injury is not yet known, but it would be a blow if the Villans were to be without their star striker, who ended his goal drought with a goal against Fulham before scoring for the Three Lions on Thursday.

Youri Tielemans - Out

The Athletic confirmed last week that Tielemans could be out for another five weeks after sustaining a calf injury against Everton on September 13. This comes as a renewed blow for the Belgian, who has already missed six matches for the Villans.

Tyrone Mings - Doubt

Mings is expected to be back in contention after the international break, following an ankle injury which saw the centre-back withdrawn against Fulham. His availability for Sunday has yet been confirmed by Emery.

The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell wrote on X after the injury: “Tyrone Mings expected to return following the international break […] Further tests were undertaken once swelling had reduced.”

Jadon Sancho - Doubt

Villa loanee Sancho was also out with illness before the international break. The former England international has played just eight minutes for his new club in the Premier League and will hope to feature against Spurs.

Emiliano Buendia - Doubt

The Argentine was substituted against Burnley after suffering concussion when he was caught by the arm of Zian Flemming. He will hope to be involved on Sunday, but Villa will have been careful to monitor his condition over the international break.

Tottenham Hotspur should return to secure a failed transfer target in the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur have begun a new dawn under Thomas Frank this season and were sat in the Champions League spots as we reached the second international break of the campaign.

The Lilywhites have picked up 14 points from seven matches, and a perceived season of transition has quickly turned into one where qualification for the Champions League through league position could be possible for only the third time in eight seasons.

With other clubs such as Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Manchester United also experiencing periods of uncertainty, Frank will know that this is as good an opportunity as any for Spurs to stake their claim to a return to the top four - which is, of course, a far cry from last year’s 17th-placed finish.

With Champions League football to be balanced, Frank may decide to bolster his attacking options in January to ensure his side hit new heights in the latter stages of the season in order to reach their end goal.

Tottenham should return for Morgan Gibbs-White in January transfer window

Arguably the most contentious moment of Spurs’ busy summer came when an agreed move for Morgan Gibbs-White fell through after Nottingham Forest claimed the north London club had tapped up their prize asset illegally. The playmaker ultimately signed a new deal at the City Ground, coupled with a seemingly-staged announcement interview alongside owner Evangelos Marinakis, and the move was off the table.

A return for the England man mid-season may appear unlikely considering the summer arrivals of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus. But a deal to bring in Gibbs-White to play alongside the pair could be just what Frank and Spurs need.

The 25-year-old’s previous contract included a £60million release clause, which was triggered by Spurs according to reports by Sky Sports News. It is unlikely that his new deal contains such a clause. However, he is only on a three-year deal until 2028, suggesting that the door could still be open for an exit at some stage.

Gibbs-White could force Forest exit after poor start to season

It has been well documented that Forest have had a tough time on the pitch since former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou replaced Nuno Espirito Santo at the helm in early September. The Australian has not won any of his first seven matches in charge, becoming the first Forest manager in history to do so, and his own fans were even calling for him to be “sacked in the morning” as Midtjylland left the City Ground with all three points in the Europa League.

It seems unlikely that Marinakis would pull the plug on a second manager so early in the season, but such a decision to stick by Postecoglou may cause the Greek owner to lose his star player instead. In a World Cup year, Gibbs-White will not be content playing for a side competing at the wrong end of the table if things continue as they are. He deserves to be playing for a club of the stature of Tottenham, and could form a formidable attacking trio alongside Simons and Kudus.

While Dejan Kulusevski may return to fitness around the new year, there is no guarantee that he will be ready to carry the workload of high-pressure fixtures across multiple competitions straight away. The chance to rotate with players of the quality of Gibbs-White and Simons could be exactly what the Swede needs, and could prove the answer to all of Spurs and Frank’s wishes.

Spurs defender Pedro Porro stole the show for Spain against Georgia on Saturday.

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Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro was the star of the show for Spain on Saturday evening as Luis de la Fuente’s side cruised past Georgia in a 2-0 win.

The Spurs star didn’t score or assist in the World Cup friendly, Crystal Palace man Yeremy and Real Sociedad star Mikel Oyarzabal on the scoresheet, but turned heads with his performance. The 26-year-old started the match but was taken off after 75 minutes, in what will be good news for Spurs’ hopes of having him back fit to face Aston Villa on Sunday. Spain do play again over the break, facing Bulgaria on Tuesday evening.

Porro posed a threat going forwards, drawing a save from Georgia shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili when striking from long range in the 30th minute. The defender also hit the post with a curling effort after the break.

Tottenham Hotspur star commended for Spain performance

TBR Football also commended the Tottenham Hotspur star for his defensive work against ‘one of the world’s best forwards’ in Paris Saint-Germain man Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Porro is reported to have ‘locked down’ the forward.

Press coverage from the match was unanimous in praising Porro. Sofa Score rated his performance a 9.1, the highest mark on the pitch, and Mundo Deportivo wrote: “He had clear orders to drive every ball into the box, and he carried them out from start to finish. He earned a well-deserved standing ovation from the entire Martinez Valero stadium and finished as the match’s MVP.”

Meanwhile, El Desmarque gave the player a 9/10 rating and wrote: “A real dagger from the wing. He had several chances to score with several dangerous crosses, and on the odd one, Marmardashvili struggled. He even hit the woodwork with a great shot that could have made it 2-0 in the second half. He was by far the best player of the match.”

Pedro Porro reflects on Spain victory

Speaking after the match, Porro said: "We're very happy with the victory. The team played very well in all aspects of the game. We had to watch out for their transitions, and I think the team did very well. The defense, in general, did a great job. It's our third clean sheet, which is important for building confidence. Now we have another tough match ahead of us on Tuesday."

Porro has been an important player under Thomas Frank so far this season, starting six of the seven Premier League fixtures. He also captained the side in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster Rovers.

The defender has 13 Spain caps to his name and has been afforded minutes in 10 of the nation’s last 11 matches. His debut for Spain came in 2023 in a 2-0 European Qualifiers defeat to Scotland.

In other news, Tottenham transfer news: Clubs send chiefs for 'talks' with Spurs star as Nigerian scouted.

Tottenham Hotspur have the chance to make some changes to their squad in the January transfer window

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Tottenham Hotspur turned to Thomas Frank as their head coach over the summer following their decision to part ways with Ange Postecoglou. Prior to his move, he caught the eye with fellow Premier League side Brentford. The Dane has spent the past few months adapting to his new surroundings at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs are currently positioned in third place in the table behind Arsenal and Liverpool. They have 14 points on the board from their first seven fixtures. The London outfit won 2-1 away at Leeds United in their last outing before the international break.

Players who Tottenham Hotspur could sign in January

Spurs have the chance to bring in some new faces in the January transfer window. They are said to keen on Brentford midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk, according to report by TEAMtalk, along with Chelsea and Manchester United. The Bees are likely to face a battle to keep hold of him this winter.

Yarmolyuk, 21, is a player who Frank knows well already. He has been on the books of his current club since joining them back in 2022 from Dnipro. The Ukraine international, who has four caps to his name, has become a key player over recent times.

Joao Palhinha has been a hit since his loan switch from Bayern Munich. The former Fulham man has slotted in nicely into their team. He is expected to complete a permanent switch down the line.

Frank has hinted at a potential future move for Bodo/Glimt winger Jens Petter Hauge: “He was fantastic. I actually tried to sign him for Brentford a long time ago. It was good to see him again. I knew he was good and today he was exceptional.”

Spurs are also said to be interested in ex-Wolves man Ruben Neves, via TBR Football. He has been playing his football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Hilal but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him return to England. The Portugal international wouldn’t be a bad pick-up if they managed to get him through the entrance door.

Players who Tottenham Hotspur probably won’t sign in January

Spurs have been linked via a report in Spain with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. The 33-year-old has been with Barcelona since 2014 after joining them from Borussia Mönchengladbach. It seems unlikely that Frank will bring in another goalkeeper halfway through a campaign having already got Guglielmo Vicario and Antonin Kinsky.

Harry Kane, who is never too far away from speculation of an eventual return to his former club, seems to be happy at Bayern Munich. He has told Sky Sports in an interview: "In terms of the Premier League, I don't know. If you had asked me when I first left to go to Bayern, I would have said for sure I would come back. Now I have been there a couple of years I would probably say that has gone down a little bit, but I wouldn't say I would never go back.”

Dean Huijsen is said to have turned down Spurs this past summer. He joined Real Madrid from AFC Bournemouth and appears to have other options on the table. Frank may be a long time admirer of the defender but he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon after his La Liga switch.

All the latest news and transfer rumours surrounding Tottenham as the international break hits its peak.

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It’s been a very solid start to the season for Tottenham, who are currently in third place in the Premier League having looked much more resolute under new boss Thomas Frank. Spurs got back to winning ways before going into the international break, beating Leeds United, and they will be hopeful of adding to it after the break.

Aston Villa await next weekend ahead of a Champions League trip to Monaco and a trip to Everton’s new stadium. In the meantime, we have rounded up all the latest surrounding the North London club.

Richarlison interest

Richarlison has been linked with a move away from Tottenham rather regularly over recent times, but he has become even more of a key player under Frank this season. Still, clubs are sniffing around the Brazilian, and according to Fabrizio Romano and ESPN, MLS side Orlando City are holding talks over a possible move next summer.

Romano posted on X: “Orlando City board presented their project to Richarlison for summer 2026 with mission to London to meet with his agents. MLS side led by director Ricardo Moreira spoke to Richarlison’s camp, as per ESPN — but he’s a key player for Spurs now.”

Suleiman links

Tottenham are said to be interestd in 19-year-old winger Sani Suleiman, who has been impressing for AS Trencin. The young Nigerian is said to have caught the eyes of Spurs at the recent under-20 World Cup.

TeamTalk report that Tottenham have already made enquiries, with Bayer Leverkusen and Rangers also said to be in the race. Suleiman has made 30 senior appearances for his current club to date, and as he returns to club action, it seems Tottenham will be watching closely.

Allen on Bissouma

Former Brentford boss turned pundit Martin Allen has been speaking about Yves Bissouma, who must prove himself to Frank as he prepares to return from injury after previously being dropped by the Spurs boss for being late.

“He’s got a lot to prove,” Allen told Tottenham news. “He is a good player, so we will see. Let’s hope his discipline can improve and his timekeeping for sure.

“I always felt that if you’re late off the pitch, and you can’t be bothered to make meetings and get in on time for training, then you’re going to be late on the pitch. And if you’re late on the pitch, it’s going to cost your team, it’s going to cost you goals, cost you points, and nobody wants that in their football club. So, he’s got a lot to do.”

Tottenham Hotspur could look to cash in on their £25 million valued striker in January.

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Crystal Palace have been credited with transfer interest in Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison ahead of the January window.

The Eagles are flying high in the Premier League so far this season in sixth place with just one defeat. However, there is the feeling that Oliver Glasner’s squad are just a few injuries away from a crisis when it comes in strength in depth.

The south London outfit did snap up Yeremy, Jaydee Canvot and Borna Sosa but, with European football now in the calendar, Crystal Palace could have perhaps done with more troops through the door. Bringing in new faces in January could be vital in ensuring there is not a drop off in form over the back end of the campaign.

Crystal Palace linked with Tottenham Hotspur forward

One of those targets could be Richarlison, according to fresh reports from Brazil. BolaVIP claim that the Eagles are competing with Flamengo over a potential January transfer, valued between £20 - £25 million.

Those reports have also been carried by Tottenham Hotspur News suggesting that Thomas Frank’s side could look to cash in on the Brazilian to fund spending elsewhere, despite a fresh £100 million cash injection from owners. Former scout Bryan King told the site: “Without doubt (they should be doing business with Palace).

“If anybody comes in for Richarlison and offers that kind of money, then I’d bite their hands off if I were Spurs. I think it will be a case of taking whatever they can get for him. Because he hasn’t exactly set the world alight since he’s been at Tottenham. Across all the managers who have been there.”

Crystal Palace have Jean-Philippe Mateta leading the line with Eddie Nketiah being slowly eased back into action following a hamstring injury. Odsonne Edouard left Selhurst Park for Lens this summer.

Richarlison hailed ‘exceptional’ by Thomas Frank

Richarlison started the Frank era at Spurs in fine form with a brace on the opening day against Burnley. He has been in and out of the starting XI, also on target against Brighton, but there is the feeling he is still not viewed as a vital part of the project in north London.

The forward, who has 67 goals and 28 assists across 250 top flight appearances, has nonetheless received praise from his new manager. Speaking after that brace against Burnley, Frank said: “He was fantastic, to have a striker to take those two chances to help us win the game – he deserves all the praise. He was exceptional; his work rate, his drive, his link up play, his hold up play.”

Speaking about the squad at Crystal Palace in September, former striker turned pundit Chris Sutton gave his view on the issues Glasner could face. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Crystal Palace's squad is too thin [to mount a title challenge], but you look at their starting XI and it is superb..

"Oliver Glasner did an interview I saw recently where he said there is too much onus on systems and not enough on habits. He was talking about his system, and he has his system, but he goes in, assesses the players that he has and then it is about getting the best out of that group.

"That is what he has done at Crystal Palace, and they are so good at what they do. We talk about them finishing high up in the table, which they may well do if they keep everybody fit and keep Guehi in January. That is where they lack, but if you compare them to say Manchester United at this moment in time - and there is a lot of talk about Ruben Amorim and his system - how many of those United players would get into this Crystal Palace team?"

In other news, Crystal Palace must demand Moises Caicedo money for 'unbelievable' star Real Madrid want - opinion.

Jermain Defoe is not keeping his love for Rangers quiet amid links with a coaching role under Steven Gerrard.

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Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham striker Jermain Defoe has fuelled rumours that he may return to Rangers in a coaching capacity following the sacking of Russell Martin last weekend.

The Glasgow giants have been at the centre of the football world’s talk over the international break having ended Martin’s turbulent tenure at Ibrox. Several candidates have been linked with replacing the former Southampton man but the frontrunner remains Steven Gerrard.

The 45-year-old spent three years in charge of Rangers between 2018 and 2021, winning the Scottish Premiership in his final season with the club. Gerrard is currently out of work having left Saudi side Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent in January.

Jermain Defoe sends Rangers managerial message

Defoe, who has managerial ambitions himself, appeared to have put himself in the shop window for Rangers. The ex talisman spent three years at Rangers between 2019 and 2022, initially as a player and then in a coaching capacity. When Gerrard left the club in November 2021, Defoe was named as part of a four-man caretaker team responsible for the side until a permanent appointment was made.

The 43-year-old’s desire to work as a manager has been well documented following his retirement from football in 2022. Defoe broke into first team football at West Ham and went on to enjoy three separate stints at Tottenham Hotspur.

He helped Spurs to win the League Cup in 2008 and was named Player of the Year for the North London side in 2004. He played 363 times for Spurs and 104 times for the Hammers, the two clubs he represented on the most occasions.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, when asked about the Rangers vacancy, Defoe said: “I’ve done all my coaching badges and if I got an opportunity to come back to that club to help this group of players then it would be a no-brainer. I said it from day one as soon as I retired. It’s well documented, the time I had there and winning arguably the most important league in the club’s history.

“Myself, Steven [Gerrard], and all the boys did that and it was amazing to be a part of it. It’s more than just a football club and I think I understood what it was about. I understood when you put on a Rangers shirt you have to win and the demands and the standards.”

Ex Spurs and West Ham makes cryptic social media posts

Since then, with Gerrard emerging as the frontrunner, teamTALK reported that Defoe could be appointed at Ibrox but in a coaching capacity to work under Gerrard. Gary McAllister was also named as a staff member that the Liverpool legend would want should he return.

Now, a series of social media posts by Defoe appear to hint at a readiness to return. The Premier League legend uploaded stories to his Instagram account, one showing a Rangers training jacket and another a jug, seemingly given to him as part of the title triumph he was involved in. The first of those images included the caption “WATP”, which is an acronym for “We Are The People”.

In other news, Tottenham handed £100m international break boost ahead of January transfer window.

Mikey Moore has struggled to find his best form in a turbulent season on loan at Rangers from Spurs.

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Tottenham Hotspur may feel hundreds of miles away from the drama currently unfolding at Rangers in Glasgow but the situation is of interest to the Premier League outfit.

The Scottish Premiership side endured an awful start to the season under Russell Martin, with the former Southampton man eventually sacked last weekend. Rangers sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership with just one league win to their name.

Rangers were also dumped out of the Champions League qualifying round and have been beaten in both of their opening Europa League match. A player involved in all of that is highly rated Tottenham Hotspur prospect Mikey Moore.

Tottenham Hotspur star struggling on loan at Rangers

The 18-year-old was part of Thomas Frank’s pre-season work having broken through under Ange Postecoglou but it was decided that the midfielder would gain experience away from Spurs this season. He joined Rangers on loan at the start of August.

Moore has made 10 appearances for Rangers but struggled to impress and hold down a sport in the starting XI. He was afforded a starting berth in the 1-1 draw at Falkirk at the weekend but received criticism for his outing.

Having been chosen ahead of Findlay Curtis, speaking after the match former Scotland striker Andy Walker told Go Radio: “I don’t see why you play Mikey Moore when you have got someone like Findlay Curtis. He is a young lad who had an eye for goal in the early part of the season.

“Mikey Moore is one of Tottenham’s reserves. He has maybe got a big reputation, but I couldn’t believe that he came out in the second half. I think his first half was awful. Every time the ball came to him, he lost it or he gave it away.”

Thomas Frank must look to recall Spurs youngster

It’s a messy situation and one that Spurs must act on. Moore is just a young talent and being exposed to the hostile environment at Rangers could well have a negative impact on his progress - it’s hardly a nurturing loan environment.

Joshua Barrie, editor of the Rangers Review, told The Standard: “It’s an impossible place to develop if Rangers aren’t winning. The environment is just so intense, it's hard to describe to people. In an ideal world he comes up here, he gets bedded in for the first month and starts to contribute.

“The issue is, because Rangers have been such a basket case, they’re relying on these guys to be the ones who lead them. That’s just too much for anyone, even if you are one of the most promising talents from England.”

That piece claims that Tottenham Hotspur do have the option to recall Mikey Moore and that must surely be activated sooner, rather than later. This is a player once, somewhat melodramatically, compared to Neymar. There is still a lot of learning to do, but it doesn’t seem to be happening at Rangers.

In other news, 'I deserved' - Tottenham star takes swipe at former club and explains Spurs transfer decision.