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Tel set for chance to impressive Thomas Frank against Doncaster in the absence of Randal Kolo Muani

Mathys Tel is set to start against Doncaster the Carabao Cup on Wednesday

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Matt Verri

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As Thomas Frank prepares for the start of Tottenham's Carabao Cup campaign, a mounting injury list presents Mathys Tel with a much-needed opportunity.

It is certainly nothing like the injury situation Ange Postecoglou faced last season, when it felt like Spurs could not go a couple of days without another hamstring being pulled, but the list of absentees is quietly growing.

Seven first-team players will miss tonight's third-round tie against Doncaster, with Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies the latest to enter the treatment room.

Kolo Muani's absence is due to him failing to recover from the dead leg that kept him out against Brighton on Saturday and it leaves Frank fairly short in attack. That, though, is positive news for Tel.

With Dominic Solanke still unavailable due to an ankle issue, Frank is expected to rest Richarlison and so the selection wheel will almost certainly land on Tel's name.

Mathys Tel has endured a difficult start to life at Spurs

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A Wednesday night fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium might ordinarily stir up thoughts of a big Champions League match, the kind of occasion that would have been firmly in Tel's mind when he signed for the club permanently in the summer.

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Instead, it is the visit of League One opposition that presents Tel with as good an opportunity as he will get to impress for the foreseeable future.

The Frenchman was omitted from Frank's squad for the league phase of the Champions League in a significant blow. He has played 98 minutes in the Premier League so far this season - 79 of those came in an ineffective display against West Ham.

Tel has looked short of confidence in a Spurs shirt and the arrival of Kolo Muani appeared to bump him further down the pecking order in attack. His compatriot's injury has handed him a lifeline, though, and a home tie against Doncaster should be the perfect platform from which to shine.

Glimpses of Tel's potential have come on international duty, when he scored twice for France Under-21s last month. That was still in Frank's mind on Tuesday when he was asked where he wants to use Tel.

“I would say he plays all his games for the French U21s down the middle,” Frank said.

“He played for us down the middle. I'm definitely aware that he can play to the side as well, also to the left and maybe that is his best position. Maybe, I would like to say, so that's definitely something I have in mind to use as well.

Spurs paid £30m to sign Tel on a permanent deal from Bayern Munich in the summer

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“It's always that you need to juggle everything. There's a few players also quite good down the left. And that's not that they maybe are better than Mathys, it can just be how do you construct a team.”

As it stands, the decision to sign Tel on a £30million deal is one that raises questions. It is hard to argue that having both Tel and Wilson Odobert, who has similarly struggled for form when given opportunities, feels like good squad building.

Tel is still waiting for a moment to kick his Spurs career into gear. He has scored three goals for the club since arriving in February, one of which was a penalty against Southampton. The other two came in defeats to Aston Villa and Wolves.

A return to the scoresheet against Doncaster would not fully cure Tel's struggles, but it would be a start. Right now, he badly needs that.

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Will Heaver

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

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Tottenham kick off their Carabao Cup campaign against Doncaster.

Spurs face League One opposition in the third round as they bid to continue their strong start to the season under Thomas Frank.

Frank has made it clear that Spurs are targeting silverware and the domestic cups are their best chance of winning something this season.

Here’s everything you need to know about the game…

Date, kick-off time and venue

Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm BST on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

The match will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Doncaster

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be shown on Sky Sports Plus with coverage beginning at 19:45.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the ground.

Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and Sky Sports Football YouTube channel should show highlights after the match.

Tottenham v Doncaster team news

Ben Davies and Kolo Muani are out injured for Spurs.

Frank is also without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.

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The Dane said in his press conference that he wanted his side to “compete across all four competitions. If we are going to do this we must pick the right team to do so”.

Antonin Kinksky will make his first start of the season in goal ahead of the rested Vicario.

Out: Randal Kolo Muani

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There will also be chances for youngster Archie Grey, who could start in midfield, and Mathys Tel will likely play up front with Brennan Johnson off the right.

Frank also said it would be a chance for academy players to “impress off the bench”, meaning Dane Scarlett and Jun’ai Byfield could get some senior minutes.

Damola Ajayi, on loan at Doncaster from Tottenham, is available to play after Spurs granted permission for him to play against his parent club. Ajayi is unlikely to start, though, with Luke Molyneaux and Jordan Gibson seemingly the preferred choice to try and support the ageless Billy Sharp up top.

Tottenham v Doncaster Prediction

Doncaster had a strong start to the season, only losing one of their first ten competitive games of the season, but have lost their last two in League One.

Spurs are looking good under Frank should comfortably progress to the next round.

Tottenham to win, 2-0

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Spurs have not lost to Doncaster since 1935. Their most recent meeting was in the League Cup in 2009, where Spurs won 5-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Tottenham wins: 6

Doncaster wins: 1

Draws: 2

Tottenham vs Doncaster match odds

Tottenham to win: 2/13

Doncaster to win: 14/1

Draw: 6/1

Odds via Betfair (Subject to change)

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Will Heaver

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

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Tottenham open their Carabao Cup campaign by hosting League One side Doncaster as they look to continue their strong start to the season under Thomas Frank.

Spurs are aiming to win their fifth League Cup and first since 2008, while Doncaster are in the hunt for a shock cup upset in north London.

Frank is dealing with a raft of injuries coming into the tie, though. Randal Kolo Muani is the latest to join the list of absentees and will not feature for Spurs as the PSG loanee picked up a minor injury.

Doncaster have started the League One season well, but fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

That loss leaves them seventh in the table with nine matches played, four points adrift of league leaders Bradford City.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Tottenham Hotspur v Doncaster Rovers is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm BST on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.

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The match will take place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Where to watch Tottenham vs Doncaster

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be shown on Sky Sports Plus with coverage beginning at 19:45.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, complete with expert insight and analysis from Matt Verri at the ground.

Free highlights: The Sky Sports app and Sky Sports Football YouTube channel should show highlights after the match.

Tottenham v Doncaster team news

Experienced defender Ben Davies joins Kolo Muani on the physio table with a minor injury as the injuries begin to pile up.

Frank is also without James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Dominic Solanke, Kota Takai and Yves Bissouma.

The Dane said in his press conference that he wanted his side to “compete across all four competitions. If we are going to do this we must pick the right team to do so”.

Antonin Kinksky will make his first start of the season in goal instead of the rested Vicario.

Out: Randal Kolo Muani

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Due to their injuries and Frank wanting to compete on all fronts, the Spurs side should be fairly strong with the likes of Cristian Romero, Wilson Odebert and Pape Sarr featuring.

There will also be chances for youngster Archie Grey, who could start in midfield, and Mathys Tel will likely play up front with Brennan Johnson off the right.

Frank also said it would be a chance for academy players to “impress off the bench”, meaning Dane Scarlett and Jun’ai Byfield could get some senior minutes.

Damola Ajayi, on loan at Doncaster from Tottenham, is available to play after Spurs granted permission for him to play against his parent club. Ajayi is unlikely to start, though, with Luke Molyneaux and Jordan Gibson seemingly the preferred choice to try and support the ageless Billy Sharp up top.

McCann will be without centre midfielder Harry Clifton, who pulled his hamstring against Wigan and is still a while away from being fully fit.

Tottenham v Doncaster Prediction

Doncaster had a strong start to the season, only losing one of their first ten competitive games of the season, but have lost their last two in the league.

Meanwhile, Spurs are renewed under Frank and have been quick off the mark, sitting third in the Premier League, having lost just one game.

Facing lower league opposition, they will be confident of progressing to the next round.

Tottenham to win, 2-0

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Spurs have not lost to Doncaster since 1935. Their most recent meeting was in the League Cup in 2009, where Spurs won 5-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Tottenham wins: 6

Doncaster wins: 1

Draws: 2

Tottenham vs Doncaster match odds

Tottenham to win: 1/8

Doncaster to win: 14/1

Draw: 5/1

Odds via Betfair (Subject to change)

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Man with a plan: Thomas Frank expects no mistakes against Doncaster

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Matt Verri

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

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Thomas Frank has no issue with Damola Ajayi having the opportunity to knock Tottenham out of the Carabao Cup.

The 19-year-old joined Doncaster on loan from Spurs this summer and could face his parent club on Wednesday night.

Spurs host the League One side in the third round of the competition and have permitted Ajayi to be involved in the match.

He started on the wing in the first round against Middlesbrough and scored in a 4-0 win.

The teenager is yet to earn a first League One start but has featured in both Carabao Cup fixtures, and is in contention to play at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Asked about the rule that makes Ajayi eligible, Frank said: “I think it's OK.

“He's on loan at another club. I know the Premier League have this if you're on loan from a club, you're not allowed to play [rule].

“We decided to loan him out because it was good for his development. I've done that a thousand times. Maybe not a thousand times, a lot of times at Brentford, but we haven't been that lucky to face one of our own players.

“It is what it is. I think it's a great opportunity for him.”

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While they are overwhelming favourites to get past Doncaster, Frank insisted he would name a “strong team” against the League One side.

“I would like us to get there where we can compete in all four tournaments throughout the year,” Frank said.

“If you want to compete in all four tournaments, you need to be good enough to pick the right team every single time. And I promise you before I pick the team, it looks like an unbelievably good plan. And also to be brave enough sometimes with the selection both ways.

“So I think every single time we put a team out there I think it goes super strong, but I think we're also aware that no players can play 60 games, 90 minutes.

“So it's that balance we need to hit throughout the season, not only because we are facing Doncaster.

“It could be Brighton last week, it was Villarreal, you know, we made some changes and we need to hit that perfect number of players that rotates and then a strong team. And it will be a strong team tomorrow.”

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Matt Verri

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

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

It is not an in-house media interview from chief executive Vinai Venkatesham that will convince Tottenham fans this could be a new era at the club.

Nor is the more visible presence of members of the Lewis family, or suggestions of a more ambitious, more engaged ownership.

Instead, it will be performances like Thomas Frank's side produced against Brighton at the Amex Stadium. On face value that appears strange to say after Spurs had to come from two-goals down just to earn a point.

This, though, felt like a very different Spurs team. In recent seasons, the Amex has proved to be an unhappy hunting ground, with Ange Postecoglou suffering two painful defeats on the south coast in contrasting manners.

Thomas Frank hailed ‘our best performance of the season’ after Jan Paul van Hecke’s own goal earned Spurs a point

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There was the 4-2 defeat in which Brighton were 4-0 up with ten minutes to play before Spurs scored a couple of late consolation goals that did little to save face. Last season, Spurs went two goals up but collapsed in the second half to leave empty-handed after a 3-2 defeat.

It all felt very familiar, then, when Spurs found themselves 2-0 down on Saturday with barely half an hour on the clock. The visitors had started well but were caught on the counter by Yankuba Minteh and Guglielmo Vicario then allowed Yasin Ayari's strike from distance to beat him.

When only a last-ditch covering challenge from Destiny Udogie stopped Brighton breaking away again with Spurs exposed at the back, the smart money was on another heavy defeat. It was not hard to imagine Spurs collapsing in the manner previous sides probably would have.

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Instead, Frank strolled in for his post-match press conference and was full of pride as he discussed his side's display.

“I think maybe this was our most complete performance so far in the season,” Frank said.

“You can say we conceded two goals, but I think actually there were so many positives overall in the game. The high pressure, the man-to-man, very aggressive. That resilience in the group, that mentality, is good."

He added: "So the mentality, the physical aspect, I thought was key. And coming here, where last year we came here and were 2-0 up, lost 3-2. Now we’re 2-0 down and come back 2-2. I think it's good.

Thomas Frank’s Spurs have 10 points after five Premier League games

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“And if there should have been a winner in my eyes, and maybe I'm slightly biased, I think it should have been us.”

The 2-0 win away at Manchester City was certainly better defensively and Spurs were ruthless in attack that day, but Frank's assessment does make sense, despite the dropped points against Brighton.

After a run of fairly stodgy performances going forward, this was much better from Spurs. Particularly when Xavi Simons come on at No10, there was a threat in the final third that had been lacking.

Mohammed Kudus provided his individual moments of inspiration out wide, Simons controlled things from the middle of the pitch and Lucas Bergvall made dangerous runs from deep. Unlike in many recent matches, it was easy to see how Spurs could hurt the opposition.

That, along with the resilience to come from behind on a ground where they have struggled so much, bodes well for Frank and his players. In many ways, this was more encouraging than the wins over West Ham and Villarreal.

Spurs now have the platform to kick on and next up in the Premier League it is a home match against Wolves, who are yet to pick up a Premier League point. Frank will hope his side do not need to show quite so much resilience again, but the attacking intent must remain.

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

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Randal Kolo Muani was a notable omission from Tottenham’s matchday squad against Brighton on Saturday, as a dead leg ruled the deadline day signing out of contention alongside fellow injured forward Dominic Solanke.

It meant the Frenchman missed out as Spurs came from two goals behind to draw at the Amex Stadium, a result that left Thomas Frank’s side with just one loss from their opening six games in all competitions despite several senior players being side-lined during that period.

Spurs are next in action against League One side Doncaster Rovers in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, with Frank hoping to welcome back a few of his absentees.

Ahead of that midweek cup tie, here’s a look at the latest Tottenham injury news.

Randal Kolo Muani

As mentioned, the reason for Kolo Muani’s absence from the Amex over the weekend was given as a “dead leg” that he had been struggling with “for four or five days”.

“It’s just not settling as we hoped for,” his manager said on Saturday.

Frank added that the French forward, who made his debut from the bench last week against Villarreal in the Champions League, would “hopefully” be available for Wednesday’s match against Doncaster.

Kolo Muani during his debut for Spurs last week

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If he’s deemed fit enough, that evening could bring Kolo Muani’s first start for his new club.

Potential return date: September 24, 2025 vs Doncaster (H)

Ben Davies

Ben Davies was also missing from Tottenham’s matchday squad on Saturday, although that was less of a surprise given the long-serving defender is yet to feature for his club so far this season.

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Still, rather than keep us in the dark, Frank had this to say on Davies’s availability: “Ben got a slight twist to the knee. It shouldn't be anything serious. Hopefully, he will be also available for Wednesday.”

Potential return date: September 24, 2025 vs Doncaster (H)

Dominic Solanke

Solanke’s start to the campaign has been hampered by an ankle injury that disrupted most of his pre-season, but Frank did say last Friday that the Englishman was “progressing” and back training on grass.

The ex-Bournemouth striker is yet to start a match this season and hasn’t featured for Spurs since coming off the bench against Manchester City last month.

Dominik Solanke last played for Tottenham against Man City as a substitute

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"The positive thing is he is back on the grass and has been for three or four days,” the Tottenham boss said before his team’s match against Brighton. “He is progressing forward - slowly, but forward.”

Ruling the player out of last week’s action, Frank added that Wednesday’s game against Doncaster was also “too early”.

Perhaps we’ll see Solanke make a return in the league this weekend, then, albeit most likely from the bench.

Potential return date: September 27, 2025 vs Wolves (H)

Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma is also nearing a return, but there’s even less clarity on an exact date for that.

The Mali international midfielder is yet to play any competitive minutes this season, having initially been left out of the Spurs squad to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup for disciplinary reasons. He then picked up an injury in training ahead of the Premier League opener against Burnley.

Speaking to the media last Friday, Frank had this to say: “I think to be fair he has just started to run outside, so he is not part of the group but everything I have seen when I’ve said hello to him and every day with the players, he seems good.

“When could he be back? That I actually don’t know.”

He added: “Of course I know (about his recovery) but that is further down the line.”

The Spurs boss had previously suggested that Bissouma’s return wasn’t too far away, but Doncaster and Wolves this week may still come too soon for him.

Potential return date: October

Dejan Kulusevski

Over the recent international break, Dejan Kulusevski gave fans a slightly graphic update on his recovery from a serious knee injury by posting an image - taken during surgery - of the back of his knee cap.

Appearing upbeat, the Swede also recently told reporters that he wakes up “every day with the same hunger”, adding: “I will be back in the very, very near future. If everything goes according to plan, I am very confident that I will be back in two-three months."

Kulusevski is yet to play for Tottenham this season

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Early next year was the most recent estimate for Kulusevski’s return, and based on the latest from the player himself we’re inclined to stick with that rough timeline.

Potential return date: Early 2026

Radu Dragusin

After he recently joined training with those not on international duty, there was hope among Spurs fans that Radu Dragusin could make an unexpectedly early comeback from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that has kept him out since February.

However, the 23-year-old defender has been left out of Spurs' squad for the league phase of the Champions League; and the suggestion from Frank is that he could still be a few months away from being in contention to play.

Speaking before the September international break, Frank said: "Of course it is an ACL, I'm always a little bit more... not worried, but just aware that it takes time.

“When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, it's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course."

Potential return date: Late 2025

Kota Takai

Kota Takai is yet to feature for Spurs, who he joined this summer, after picking up a plantar fascia issue.

The Japanese centre-back missed early-summer friendlies against Reading, Wycombe and Luton, before Thomas Frank confirmed: "Kota got a plantar fascia injury, unfortunately we don't know the scale of it... weeks."

Last Friday, we got a slight update from the Danish manager that Takai is “very close to training with the group” - but we’ve not heard much more than that.

Potential return date: Late 2025 or early 2026

James Maddison

The most long-term absentee on this list, James Maddison is set to miss most - if not all - of the 2025-26 campaign after rupturing his ACL during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle.

Maddison has since undergone surgery, but no timeframe has been placed on his absence by the club - although he was spotted in seemingly good spirits during Tottenham’s home tie against Villarreal last Tuesday.

Absent: James Maddison

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A statement from Spurs said that following his surgery, “James will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team.

“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur wishes James a full and speedy recovery. We will be supporting him every step of the way.”

Potential return date: April 2026

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