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Spurs are without 10 first-team players tonight as the fixtures turn tough

In charge: Thomas Frank

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Matt Verri

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Just over two months into the season, it is difficult to know quite what to make of Tottenham's start to life under Thomas Frank.

Sixth in the table and five points off leaders Arsenal is a marked improvement from last season's Premier League shambles, while four points from two Champions League matches represents a strong platform to kick on from.

The defence is much-improved and set-pieces at both ends of the pitch have been transformed.

Yet there is a sense things are not quite right. The eye test tells you the right balance in midfield has not been found and that Spurs' attackers, Mohammed Kudus aside, are not as threatening as Frank needs.

The underlying data shows that Spurs are in the bottom half when it comes to expected goals and expected points.

Tottenham are over-performing their data

Action Images via Reuters

With an incredibly tough run of fixtures taking Spurs all the way through to Christmas, the direction of the team's season will soon become apparent.

Frank's side take on Monaco tonight in the Champions League and the French club have not lost at home this season, taking a point off Manchester City at the start of October.

Spurs have the best away record in the Premier League, but this will be a stern test, not least because a familiar problem is once again rearing its head.

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For one reason or another, Frank will be without ten first-team players tonight. Coping without the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski is something Spurs have had to do all season, but the treatment room now has fresh blood.

Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies all returned from the international break with injury issues and have not travelled to Monaco.

As it stands, Spurs have two fit full-backs in the squad and 16-year-old Jun'ai Byfield as their only back-up centre-back. One more injury and either Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha would likely have to slot into the defence.

Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up on Sunday

Action Images via Reuters

Frank was unable to provide a timeframe for Romero's return, but he was asked at his pre-match press conference whether fans should be worried about the Spurs captain's injury.

He responded: “No, I don't think so. For me it's an adductor strain. We'll assess him this week and then we'll know more.”

Any anxiety from supporters, though, would only be natural. It was not far off this time last season that injury problems hit for Romero, and much of the Spurs squad, and the domestic season fell apart.

However long Romero is out for this time, and Spurs remain hopeful it is not for an extended period, he will be sorely missed.

Spurs were incredibly poor against Bodo/Glimt without their captain last month. Kevin Danso is a capable understudy but he cannot replace Romero's ability on the ball when it comes to finding passes through the lines.

Particularly with the Spurs midfield in front of him often being too safe in possession, Romero is capable of relieving the pressure and picking out the creative players in pockets of space.

Kevin Danso will be required to step up in his captain’s absence

John Walton/PA Wire

Ahead of what feels like a huge run of fixtures, coping without Romero is a significant test of Spurs' mentality. Much has been made of the improvements the team have made in that respect this season, with multiple comebacks, and this is another stern examination.

Particularly now with the captain's armband, Romero is the player this Spurs team look to in the toughest moments, to rally them and hold the fort together.

After tonight's clash, Spurs travel to face Everton on Sunday and are away at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. Frank's side then host Chelsea and Manchester United - Spurs have won three of their last 18 home matches in the Premier League. Beyond the next international break, Arsenal and PSG loom.

It is a run that will potentially serve as a crossroads for the season. Come through it, even with the injury issues, and there will be no shortage of evidence that Spurs really have turned a corner under Frank, and the positive league positions are sustainable.

Picking up a result in Monaco without their captain would be the perfect start.

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Spurs clearly altered approach to signing players during eventful summer window

Successor: Thomas Frank replaced the sacked Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham head coach in June

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Matt Verri

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Tottenham's head of scouting Rob Mackenzie has explained the club’s shift in transfer policy under Thomas Frank.

After winning the Europa League last season to earn their place in the Champions League, Spurs strengthened this summer by bringing in players with experience of Europe's top competition.

Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Randal Kolo Muani were among those added to what was a very young squad.

That in itself had been a deliberate plan under Ange Postecoglou. In the summer of 2024, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert were signed as Spurs looked to the future in overhauling their squad.

"There were a whole host of things from a strategic perspective that would enhance our ability to be successful moving forward,” Mackenzie told the TGG Podcast of those transfer windows under Postecoglou.

“At that time, with Ange as the head coach, we were definitely in a period of transition in terms of some of the more experienced players leaving.

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“So how do you regenerate a squad from an energy perspective, an enthusiasm perspective, a strategic perspective? Within that summer and in January, we signed players who would assist with our mid to long-term sustainability as a football club.”

Hitting the ground running: Mohammed Kudus has made an excellent start to life at Tottenham

Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

It was felt that approach needed to shift in the most recent transfer window to give new head coach Frank a squad capable of competing now, rather than in a couple of years’ time.

Mackenzie revealed that in future windows there will be more of a "balance" between the two strategies at Tottenham.

“It’s about getting a balance and complementing what you already have,” he said. “We were fortunate enough to have signed those young talents who not only can contribute now but also in the future.

“Then it felt natural [to] say, ‘Well. if we’ve hopefully done a solid role in recruiting some of the most exciting talents across Europe and beyond, then actually from a short-term competitiveness perspective… it felt natural to enhance the 11 in as many ways as possible and give Thomas Frank and his staff different options across different areas of the pitch.

“Because winning games is the most important thing. Any Spurs fan who was in Bilbao (will know) that winning things is the holy grail. Moving forward, we’ll look to enhance in both areas, kind of balance them both off.”

Kudus and Palhinha have arguably been Spurs' two best players this season, with Frank benefitting from the shift to signing players ready to improve the starting lineup immediately.

However, Simons has yet to hit top form and questions were raised over the decision to sign Mathys Tel on a permanent deal when he was then left out of the club's squad for the league phase of the Champions League.

Despite that, Mackenzie has seen enough on the pitch this season to convince him that it was a job well done in the summer.

“Very objectively, I think we had a successful transfer window in the summer and we’ve brought in players capable of influencing our 11 and enhancing our performance in the Premier League,” he said.

“In the players that we agreed to sign – as a collective and obviously led by Thomas – they are all playing regularly and contributing to our 11. For me, that is the best indicator that there is agreement and alignment.”

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The record was duly corrected to "lacking some creativity in the final third" and the question continued as to how much responsibility Xavi Simons takes for that.

The £52million summer signing has now made eight appearances in a Tottenham shirt. He has not scored for the club and his only assist came on debut when swinging a corner to the back post for Pape Matar Sarr.

"Of course it will always be, let's say, the front four - today Wilson, Mo, Xavi and Mathys - that is the main guys that will be judged on it, which is fair. Other players coming on from the bench.

"I like Xavi's personality today, especially in the first half. I think he wanted to get on the ball, he wanted to create. I think he was very aggressive in the pressure. I think it was a fine game.

"I think I need to remember it myself when we judge players and they come into a new club, a new country. I know it's part of football, [but] we judge them with a very small sample of games.

“Average-plus” was a generous reading of what was a poor performance from Simons. In matches at home when Spurs have the majority of possession and need to break a team down, he should be a difference-maker. Currently, getting the best out of the 22-year-old is just another problem for Frank to solve.

The Dutchman barely had a kick in the opening 30 minutes, staying high up the pitch in the No10 role rather than dropping deep to get involved.

Spurs need Simons to take more responsibility in demanding the ball when things are not working. There is, of course, also the issue of service. Frank again opted to play both Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha together in a home match and progressing the ball up the pitch was once more a problem.

As is often the case, Spurs focused their attacks down the wings. Frank wants his sides to get crosses into the box and so both Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert saw plenty of the ball.

Wing play is a key focus of Frank's teams and Kudus has been Spurs' best attacker so far this season, but it does mean Spurs rarely play to Simons' strengths. Put simply, they do not attack through the middle of the pitch very often.

Simons' best moments came off the ball, making four tackles in the first half and seemingly enjoyed the physical battle. He squared up to John McGinn after one challenge left him frustrated.

It does not feel like it is the physicality of the Premier League that is a problem for Simons. In the first half, finding Simons was the issue, but after the break the frustration was more his quality on the ball.

More than once in the second half, Simons cut in off the left and had a chance to get a shot away, but instead continued to drift inside and played a safe pass.

Away at Brighton last month, in what was Simons' best display for Spurs, he had three shots in his half an hour off the bench, running the show in midfield. He was brave and decisive and backed himself when the space opened up. In three Premier League starts since then, he has not had a single shot and his confidence appears to be dwindling.

Spurs do not need him playing those kind of sideways passes. There are plenty of others to do that, with Simons brought in to address the lack of creativity in midfield in the absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

At his best, Simons is exactly what this Spurs side need. For now, though, it does not feel like a comfortable match.

Spurs added two names to the injury list as they were beaten by Aston Villa on Sunday

Injured: Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Yves Bissouma are all out of action

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Arthur Ferridge

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Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Tottenham endured a difficult Sunday afternoon as they were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa and suffered two new first-team injuries.

Cristian Romero withdrew from the squad during warm-ups with an adductor injury shortly after it was revealed that Destiny Udogie had picked up a new knee issue.

The new absentees leave Thomas Frank with a worryingly thin back-line ahead of a very busy run of matches.

Here is all the latest Tottenham injury news and potential return dates...

Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero was due to start against Aston Villa but suffered an adductor injury in the warm-up and withdrew from the matchday squad, to be replaced by Kevin Danso.

Speaking post-match, Frank downplayed the injury’s severity: "Minor adductor injury. He felt a little bit the past few days. We expected him to be fine but he wasn't. I don't think it is too big."

No specific timeframe has yet been offered for his return, but Frank’s added he was unsure whether he would be fit to face Monaco on Wednesday night.

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Potential return date: Late October

Cristian Romero was due to start against Aston Villa but watched from the bench instead

Action Images via Reuters

Destiny Udogie

After he did not appear in either of Italy’s matches over the international break, Destiny Udogie was something of a surprise exclusion from Spurs’ squad to face Villa.

Speaking pre-match, Frank explained he had a minor knee injury.

"Came back from international duties and minor irritation on the knee," said the Spurs boss. "Nothing major."

The full extent of the injury is not yet clear, though Frank did not seem alarmed by his absence.

Potential return date: Late October/early November

Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma has not played for Spurs yet this season after he was left out of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons.

He had been recovering from an injury and finally returned to the pitch for Mali over the international break, but was injured again moments after his introduction and stretchered off.

Frank said of his recovery: “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."

Potential return date: Unknown

Dominic Solanke

Dominic Solanke was in and out of the Spurs squad in the first weeks of the season as he dealt with a persistent ankle injury, but he seems to be nearing a return.

He underwent a successful surgery in September but is yet to return to full team training.

Frank said last week he is unsure when he will be available for selection again.

He avoided giving a specific timeline for his return to play: "The good thing is it's positive, he's progressing now. But he's still training on his own.

“I don't want to be too excited or too negative either way, so I'm actually taking it a little bit day-by-day and week-by-week to see how quick he progresses.”

Potential return date: Late 2025

Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski is yet to appear for Spurs this season after undergoing surgery on his patella after the Europa League final.

Frank has confirmed that there was a “good chance” of Kulusevski pulling on a Spurs shirt before the year was out, adding the winger’s return was “hopefully not too far away”.

Potential return date: December

Radu Dragusin

Romanian defender Dragusin has returned to training as he continues his rehabilitation from an ACL injury.

He will be eased back into action, but Frank has confirmed he could be available for selection in “a few weeks.”

Potential return date: Late October

James Maddison

James Maddison is expected to miss most of the season after undergoing surgery on a torn ACL, sustained in a pre-season meeting with Newcastle.

Potential return date: Summer 2026

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