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Tottenham Hotspur host Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday and the tie should provide some squad players with first-team opportunities.

Tottenham Hotspur will kick off their Carabao Cup campaign on Wednesday and Doncaster are the team who will make the journey to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs will be eyeing a return to winning ways after being held to a 2-2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. Thomas Frank is likely to make some changes from the team which played in the Premier League, providing rotation players with the opportunity to shine.

Here are the five players to watch in Tottenham’s League Cup third round.

Antonin Kinsky is likely to start for Tottenham

Antonin Kinsky is yet to play for Spurs this season. It comes as no surprise that he has not started a league game, but he was also left out of the lineup which faced Villarreal in the Champions League.

Kinsky will probably start against Doncaster and he has a point to prove. Guglielmo Vicario is not going to be benched unless Tottenham’s second choice goalkeeper does something special. Therefore, he must show what he can do on Wednesday.

Doncaster might not be expected to threaten much, but Grimsby’s win over Manchester United has shown that top tier teams must be prepared for anything. Kinsky may be called into action and it would do him a world of good to make some saves and earn himself a clean sheet.

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Randal Kolo Muani could be handed his first Spurs start

Randal Kolo Muani missed Tottenham’s visit to Brighton due to a dead leg, but he will be hoping to be fit for the Doncaster match. Frank is hopeful that Muani will be available on Wednesday and he could make his first Tottenham start.

It will be very interesting to watch Muani this season, because it is not yet known whether he will become the first, second or even third choice striker at Tottenham. Dominic Solanke has already fallen behind Richarlison in the pecking order, while the Brazilian does not have the best record when it comes to staying consistent and free from injuries.

Muani averaged one goal every two matches in Serie A during the first half of the calendar year, so he obviously offers an attacking threat. Starting against Doncaster would be a great opportunity, especially since they conceded three goals to Wigan Athletic during their last trip on the road.

Brennan Johnson may return to the Tottenham first-team

Brennan Johnson has appeared in every Spurs game this season except for the UEFA Super Cup. However, he has not been named in the starting lineup since the 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth before the international break.

This is a harsh reality for Johnson, who scored in Tottenham’s opening two Premier League fixtures. On top of this, he was playing on the left wing which is not his natural side.

Mohammed Kudus has not scored a goal for Spurs and yet he is clearly favoured over Johnson. The Welshman must keep banging in the goals, but he also needs to be active in Tottenham’s attacking moves. Too often Johnson seems to be invisible and only shows up during certain points of the match and this needs to change if he is to compete with Kudus.

Kevin Danso must show he is first-team quality

Cristian Romero is always going to start Premier League matches when he is available, but Danso is surely too good a player to be spending every game sat on the bench.

The centre-back should get an opportunity against Doncaster and he needs to assert dominance in defence. Tottenham could well play a high line and look to take the game to their Carabao Cup opponents, so Danso’s passing and long balls will be tested, as well as his defending.

Frank is likely to make the Champions League a priority, but Spurs do have some favourable matches against teams they should be beating. It would be good for Danso to be playing in these fixtures, but he must earn his place.

Luca Williams-Barnett has been on fire

Luca Williams-Barnett recently scored a 39 minute hat-trick for Tottenham u21s and Spurs supporters are eager to see him make his senior debut against Doncaster. At 16 years old, he is one of the club’s most promising prospects.

Williams-Barnett already has four goals and two assists in four Premier League 2 appearances. In addition to this, he has registered a goal and assist in the UEFA Youth League and the EFL Trophy after one match in each competition.

Frank will surely select at least a few academy players in his matchday squad and Williams-Barnett has to be included. Everyone in the stadium will be watching on with bated breath waiting to witness the talent get his first taste of senior football and based on his record, maybe even a goal.

Tottenham will look to bounce back from their draw at Brighton with a strong response in the Carabao Cup, as Thomas Frank prepares to shuffle his pack for the clash against Doncaster Rovers. Let’s take a look at our predicted Tottenham XI to face Doncaster.

Following their 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur’s attention now turns to the Carabao Cup, where they take on League One side Doncaster Rovers.

Tottenham were semi-finalists in this competition last time out, and they will aim to go a few steps further this season. Still, they must first take care of business against Doncaster at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

This tie also provides Frank with the opportunity to rotate his squad, allowing several players yet to feature in his Tottenham side this season to get some valuable minutes.

Let’s see how Thomas Frank could line up this midweek against Doncaster Rovers.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Doncaster Rovers

Goalkeeper – Antonin Kinsky: Guglielmo Vicario had a howler when trying to deal with Brighton’s second goal during the weekend, and could very well be rested here with Kinsky expected to step in.

Right-back – Djed Spence: The England international was dropped to the bench in the Brighton fixture, but he may return to the starting XI this time, with Pedro Porro handed a rest.

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Centre-back – Cristian Romero: While there may be a reshuffle in defence on Wednesday, Romero is still expected to start against Doncaster.

Centre-back – Kevin Danso: It could be a first start for Danso this midweek, with Micky van de Ven likely dropping to the bench to give the Dutchman some much-needed rest.

Left-back – Ben Davies: Another first start could be on the cards for Wales international Ben Davies, who may slot in at left-back in place of Destiny Udogie.

Pivot midfielder – Archie Gray: Frank has already spoken of his desire to give Gray more game time, and this Carabao Cup tie could provide the perfect opportunity for the youngster to play in his preferred midfield role.

Pivot midfielder – Pape Matar Sarr: The Senegal international has impressed so far this season, and having sat out the Brighton clash, he is expected to make a return to the starting XI.

Centre midfielder – Lucas Bergvall: The Swede is enjoying fine form and could be handed a start in a more advanced midfield position.

Left midfielder – Xavi Simons: Simons is still being eased into life in England, but this midweek tie against Doncaster could be another chance for him to start from the off.

Striker – Mathys Tel: Randal Kolo Muani is tipped to return from his dead leg injury ahead of this cup tie and could provide another option for Frank, although it remains to be seen if he is fit enough to start.

Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to get their Carabao Cup campaign underway with a win at home to Doncaster, as Thomas Frank’s side aim to build on their recent form and make progress in another competition. Here’s how to watch the clash between Tottenham and Doncaster.

Tottenham Hotspur now shift focus towards the Carabao Cup, following a hectic week that included both Champions League and Premier League fixtures.

It is a change of pace, but an important one, with the club keen to make their mark in this competition after going deep in it last season.

The north London side will want to start their journey strongly, especially after their semi-final run last time out, and the Doncaster tie presents a real opportunity to settle into the rhythm of the cup early on.

For Thomas Frank, this game offers a valuable chance to rotate his squad, with several players pushing for minutes after a busy schedule.

When and where is the game?

Tottenham will face Doncaster at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, with kick-off set for 19:45 (UK time).

How to watch Tottenham vs Doncaster in the UK

Supporters in the UK will be able to watch Tottenham vs Doncaster live on television through Sky Sports+.

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Tottenham and Doncaster team news

Thomas Frank will have to make do without James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski, as all three remain sidelined.

There is a chance of a return for Kota Takai and Dominic Solanke, who have resumed training, although their involvement is not yet certain.

Randal Kolo Muani, who picked up a dead leg, could feature after Frank confirmed his recovery is progressing, while Yves Bissouma is still unavailable.

Doncaster, in contrast, has a clean bill of health and no injuries to contend with ahead of this fixture.

Spurs Web prediction for Tottenham vs Doncaster

Spurs enter this cup tie in decent form, with two wins from their last three matches and a hard-fought draw in their most recent Premier League outing.

Doncaster, however, has struggled, losing their last two games, and this will only make their trip to north London more daunting.

With home advantage and momentum behind them, Tottenham should have too much quality for their League One opponents, and it could turn into a comfortable evening for the Lilywhites.

A former Premier League star has told Tottenham Hotspur that they have a midfielder in their squad who could fetch a bigger fee than the one Declan Rice did a couple of years ago.

Some pundits have been impressed with Tottenham’s midfield depth, which has allowed Thomas Frank to rotate between various options so far this season.

One man who initially found himself on the bench has really come to the fore over the last three matches and made himself nearly undroppable.

We are, of course, talking about Lucas Bergvall, who swept all of Tottenham’s end-of-season awards last term and has carried on from where he left off at the start of this campaign.

After add-ons were activated, Tottenham paid just £15.7m to sign Bergvall from Djurgardens, but they are told he is worth a whole lot more now.

Pundit says Lucas Bergvall is worth £110m to Tottenham

According to reports, Barcelona are still ruing the fact that Tottenham beat them to Bergvall’s signature 18 months ago, and one can understand why.

The teenager appears to be a generational talent, and a former West Ham midfielder, Martin Allen, has claimed that the Swede is worth more than the £105m that Arsenal paid to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in 20223.

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When asked how much Bergvall is worth, Allen told Tottenham News: “At the age that he’s at, you’ve got to remember what Declan Rice and many, many years at West Ham, he went for £105m a couple of years ago.

“With him, there’s no way I’d sell him for less than £110m, no way. For me, he’s a better player than Rice, because he scores goals, and Declan’s not great at scoring goals. Top, top quality player. Yeah, and I will put him around about that £110m bracket, he’s that good, in my opinion.”

Bergvall continues to win admirers with each outing

Bergvall’s numbers suggest that he is already among the best in the Premier League, and there is good reason to think that the 19-year-old is nowhere close to his ceiling just yet.

Thomas Frank has revealed that he sometimes has to tell Bergvall to run less, given the enthusiasm, engine and drive that the teenager possesses.

As Tottenham Hotspur continue to dream of bringing Harry Kane back to the club, a new report has explained what conditions have to be met to prise the striker away from the Allianz Arena next summer.

It has been reported over recent months that Kane wants to return to the Premier League next summer after the 2026 World Cup.

The Lilywhites would hold an advantage if the 32-year-old does decide to leave Bavaria, as Tottenham added a first refusal clause when they sold Kane to Bayern, thus giving them the right to match any accepted bid for the centre-forward.

At Spurs Web, we have extensively covered that Kane’s contract at Bayern has a release clause which will drop with each transfer window, and a new report has now shed light on how much the clause would be worth next summer.

How much would Tottenham have to pay to sign Harry Kane next summer?

According to a report in BILD, the striker can leave the Allianz Arena next summer for £57m as per the clause in his contract.

However, the outlet explains that for that clause to be triggered, the Tottenham legend must inform Bayern of his intention to leave before the end of the winter transfer window.

We might thus know in four months whether Kane is seriously considering an exit from the Bundesliga giants at the end of this season.

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What Kane is thinking about his future

Over the last week, sources in Spain have suggested that Barcelona are now eyeing a move for Kane next summer.

Additionally, it has been reported that while the Bayern star is staying silent on his future, sources close to Kane believe that he wants to be competing at the highest level for major trophies.

That means that for Tottenham to have any chance of re-signing their record goalscorer next summer, they need to be going toe-to-toe with the best sides in the Premier League and across Europe.

Tottenham Hotspur were ready to spend big on Savinho in the summer, and a new report has revealed whether we can expect the Lilywhites to go back in for the Manchester City star in January.

Tottenham tried until the final days of the summer window to land Savinho, but in the end, they were unable to get a deal for the Man City star over the line.

According to reports, Savinho was keen on joining Spurs, but Pep Guardiola’s men refused to sanction an exit for the Brazilian.

After missing out on the 21-year-old, Tottenham secured Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in a deadline day deal, but it turns out that they are continuing to keep an eye on the City star.

Tottenham could test Man City’s resolve to keep Savinho in January

Journalist Dean Jones has said that Tottenham’s interest in the former Girona man has not gone away despite their failed summer move.

He pointed out that the winger has not been playing much despite Guardiola’s insistence on keeping him, and he backed the Lilywhites to reignite their interest in the attacker in January.

Jones told TEAMtalk: “Spurs are still keeping an eye on Savinho, knowing that he wanted the move in the summer. His minutes recently are not very convincing at City. Guardiola told him he wants him to stay, but Savinho needs to see how he fits in.

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“The next couple of matches should bring more game time for him and will be a better chance to assess where he is at – but it is the case that Tottenham would revisit in January if they saw the chance to do so.”

Tottenham have identified a Savinho alternative

It has been reported over recent days that Tottenham have identified Sevilla’s Ruben Vargas as an alternative to Savinho.

According to some sources, Spurs are currently leading Aston Villa in the race to sign Vargas, who could be allowed to leave Seville in January.

One Tottenham Hotspur man has been named in Squawka’s Premier League Team of the Week for his performance against Brighton.

Even though Spurs failed to take three points from the Amex Stadium, Thomas Frank insisted that Tottenham delivered their best performance of the season so far.

The Lilywhites started the game on the front foot and pinned Brighton back, but conceded twice against the run of play.

The Spurs side of last season may have crumbled after that, but Frank’s men fought back at the Amex Stadium and deservedly drew level, with Joao Palhinha even admitting that the Tottenham players were disappointed not to win.

Tottenham’s Richarlison makes the Team of the Week

Richarlison brought Tottenham back into the game with a goal late in the first half, which was his third strike of the season.

The Brazilian may not have started if Randal Kolo Muani had not picked up a late injury, but his performance was enough to see him make Squawka’s Team of the Week.

The data analysis platform gave Richarlison a Squawka score of 79 per cent and wrote: “Leading the charge in the Premier League team of the week, Richarlison scored his third league goal of the season in Tottenham’s 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday.

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“The Brazilian struck with one of five shots at the AMEX and won two aerial duels to feature on the frontline.”

Thomas Frank hails several Tottenham players

There were many impressive performances from back to front for Spurs, with Thomas Frank hailing Destiny Udogie for an ‘unstopable’ performance in his first start of the season.

The Tottenham boss also lavished praise on Mohammed Kudus after the Ghana international created both of his side’s goals at the Amex Stadium.

Alan Shearer has been impressed with the impact that Tottenham’s summer signing has made at the start of the Thomas Frank era.

Mohammed Kudus was one of Tottenham’s first signings of the Frank era, and the former West Ham player had a full pre-season with Spurs after making the move early in the summer.

That has certainly helped him in the first few weeks of the season, with the Ghanaian hitting the ground running at N17, having started every single game so far this season.

Kudus was once again the star of the show for Spurs at the Amex Stadium as he registered two assists to help the Lilywhites battle from two goals down to secure a draw.

Alan Shearer praises Mohammed Kudus’ impact at Tottenham

Following the draw against the Seagulls, Thomas Frank lavished praise on Kudus for his hold-up play and one-v-one ability, admitting that the 25-year-old is a huge asset to his side.

Shearer concurs, complimenting the Spurs winger for his performance and insisting that the Lilywhites were good value for a point at the South Coast.

The Newcastle legend said on The Rest is Football podcast: “Kudus did well again, he’s a real threat, isn’t he? Yeah, 2-0 down, they were always going to take 2-2, but I thought they were worthy of a point. Thomas Frank has made a really good start there.”

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Former Spurs midfielder is in awe of Kudus

Shearer is not the only pundit who has been eulogising about the Tottenham Hotspur winger, with a former Spurs midfielder also singing his praises after his performance against Brighton.

Danny Murphy described Kudus as ‘outstanding’, adding that the pacy wide man caused the Seagulls’ defence all sorts of problems.

Kudus already has four assists for Tottenham in five Premier League games, which is just one short of his assist tally for West Ham through the entirety of last season.

Former Tottenham sporting director Fabio Paratici has now been handed an 18-month suspended prison sentence following his involvement in the Juventus scandal.

Former Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici had only just completed his 30-month ban from football earlier this summer, a sanction handed down due to his role in the infamous Juventus “Plusvalenza” scandal.

The Italian transfer specialist, known for his aggressive dealings in the market, has been away from the touchline during that period, although his name has continued to surface whenever speculation about potential returns to football emerges, with AC Milan and Tottenham previously mentioned as possible destinations for Paratici.

None of those links ever came to fruition, but Paratici did act in a consultancy capacity for Tottenham while away from the game, keeping himself loosely tied to the club during a period of restructuring at the top.

Fabio Paratici handed suspended jail sentence after Juventus scandal

According to The Sun, former Spurs director of football Fabio Paratici has now been handed an 18-month suspended jail sentence, reached through a plea bargain agreement with Italian prosecutors.

The situation has cast doubt over his eligibility to work within the Premier League once again, particularly under the league’s revised ownership and director rules.

As of 2023, the rules clearly state that anyone convicted of serious offences such as corruption, fraud or tax evasion cannot be appointed to the board of a Premier League club.

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Paratici’s role in the Juventus scandal, therefore, places huge question marks over any potential return to Tottenham, and it leaves open the very real possibility that his time in the Premier League may have been cut short for good.

Tottenham unlikely to turn back to Paratici

Tottenham currently have Johan Lange serving as sporting director, and while the club has undergone plenty of change at the boardroom level in recent months, there is no indication that Lange’s position is under threat.

The Danish director only just oversaw Tottenham’s latest summer business, with the Lilywhites securing several high-profile signings who have already started to make their mark in North London.

Tottenham Hotspur’s injury list is already growing, but Spurs fans can expect to have a few players back very soon, while some are still a long way away.

Thomas Frank has said that he has plans in place to avoid another injury crisis at Tottenham this season, and the Dane has been liberal with how he has rotated his squad, even at this early stage of the season.

Tottenham are without Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies, and Kota Takai in defence, while they also have three midfield absentees in Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Yves Bissouma.

Additionally, Dominic Solanke is still on the mend, while new signing Randal Kolo Muani missed the Brighton clash with a dead leg.

When are Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani expected to return?

The Evening Standard say that Kolo Mauni could shake off his dead leg and make his full Tottenham debut against Doncaster on Wednesday.

They point out that Frank has said that the Doncaster game has come too early for Solanke, but suggest that the England international could be fit for the clash against Wolves.

Davies’ injury is also not thought to be serious, with the Welshman potentially in line for his first minutes of the season in the upcoming Carabao Cup clash.

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The outlet explains that there is a lack of clarity regarding Bissouma’s injury and suggests that we may not see him until next month. According to the report, Takai may not be back fit until the end of the year or early 2026.

What is the status on Radu Dragusin, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski?

Radu Dragusin is now back in training, and The Standard claim that we could see the Romanian back in action before the end of the year.

However, they are less optimistic about Kulusevski, saying that we might only see the Swede in a Tottenham shirt in early 2026.

Maddison, who suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, is not expected back until April of 2026, with the attacking midfielder expected to miss almost the entirety of the campaign.