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Thomas Frank’s new-look Tottenham side is beginning to take shape, and a handful of individuals are already setting the standard with their form and consistency.

Tottenham Hotspur have had a mixed start to life under Thomas Frank this season, with some solid performances on the board already, while others have not been entirely impressive.

Regardless, there are still many positives to look forward to, and some of those are the players who are performing at the highest level at the moment.

We have now identified five such players, whose form under Thomas Frank has been nothing short of top-notch.

Mohammed Kudus has become a main man at Tottenham

£55 million was spent to bring Mohammed Kudus to Hotspur Way, and it is clear why the club were so keen to get him through the doors.

Kudus has received rave reviews from several pundits and ex-professionals, with Jermain Defoe even describing the Ghana international as the main man at Spurs.

The 25-year-old’s creativity, dribbling and flair have stood out already this term, with Kudus grabbing four assists and topping the league charts for take-ons and chances created.

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He also grabbed a much-needed winning goal to help Tottenham end their run of consecutive draws in the league, while ensuring they entered the international break on a high after a victory against Leeds in matchweek seven.

Kudus is already showing he is a top player who could very well be the difference maker for Frank in key games this season.

Joao Palhinha is a defensive anchor

Spurs have long been missing a defensive anchor, one who can sit in front of the back four and do the dirty job of shielding them from threats.

Joao Palhinha has come in on loan and has already started to leave his mark, and it should come as no surprise given his Premier League experience.

During his time at Fulham, no holding midfielder put in more tackles than Palhinha, and already at Tottenham, no player has won more duels than the Portuguese, who ranks third in the entire division.

While his defensive attributes have earned him plenty of praise, it is also worth mentioning that he has chipped in with crucial goals this season, with his strike against Wolves ensuring Spurs avoided defeat against the bottom-placed side.

Pape Matar Sarr’s versatility has been on show

Pape Matar Sarr started the season brightly, with the midfielder often entrusted with the number ten role in the absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

The Senegal international impressed in that advanced position, with his pressing and relentless work rate often ensuring Tottenham could win the ball high up the pitch.

Sarr is not just a hard worker; he also has goals in his game, and so far this term, the 23-year-old has grabbed a goal and two assists.

He has been in top form, and it is no wonder James Maddison asked Sarr to push for 15 goals this campaign.

Djed Spence showing top defensive qualities

Djed Spence has fought his way into the Tottenham side and has not looked back since breaking into the squad.

This season has been more of the same, with Spence putting in top performances on the right and even filling in on the left when called upon.

Spence’s impressive form in a Tottenham shirt this term has seen him earn his first England call-up and his first start for the Three Lions.

The 25-year-old is now consciously making an effort to be a top defender, with his infamous ‘Spence penitentiary’ meme becoming something he even jokes about when he locks up top wingers.

He is certainly proving to be a great asset for Tottenham, keeping Destiny Udogie on his toes as well.

Micky van de Ven continues to impress as he remains fit

Tottenham have one of the best defences in the Premier League, and that is down to Thomas Frank and how he has organised them defensively.

A centre-back pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is arguably one of the toughest to break down, and it is no surprise they have managed to keep three clean sheets, the third-most in the division.

Van de Ven is not just one who mops things up with his incredible recovery pace, but he is gradually becoming a threat in the opposition box.

The Dutchman has already grabbed a goal this season, and Frank is now demanding that Van de Ven gets on the end of more crosses moving forward.

The 24-year-old has been in such good form that he has featured in every Premier League and Champions League game so far.

Tottenham fans will love what the Spanish media are saying about Pedro Porro after his most recent performance against Georgia.

While a lot of people have raved about Djed Spence over the last 12 months, Porro’s exploits on the other end of the pitch are going unnoticed.

The 26-year-old is one of the few players in the Spurs squad who appears to never get injured, and the numbers suggest that he is up there with the best in terms of attacking output.

No defender has registered more assists for a Premier League club in all competitions than Porro since the start of the 2023-24 season, with the Tottenham man having 18 to his name.

Tottenham star Pedro Porro is the toast of the Spanish press

Porro was named the Man of the Match for Spain in their 2-0 win over Georgia on Saturday, with the full-back hailed for his defensive solidity as well as what he offered going forward.

He directly came up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the Georgian left, and not only did he manage to keep the PSG star quiet, but he was a constant threat high up the pitch

El Desmarque have Porro a nine out of 10, saying: “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.”

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Sport gave the Tottenham Hotspur man an eight out of 10 and said about his performance: “One of the best players on the Spanish national team. He drove up the wing a lot and delivered some good crosses. He even dared to shoot, testing Mamardashvili. In the second half, he came close to scoring, but hit the post.”

Finally, Mundo Deportivo said about Porro’s display on Saturday: “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.”

Porro’s numbers show why he is underrated

Apart from his assist numbers, the Tottenham man’s other metrics show that he is one of the best full-backs going around.

Porro is near the top of the tree for progressive carries, progressive passes, possessions won, and aerial duels won, which suggests that his defensive shortcomings are sometimes overstated.

Tottenham fans will be encouraged by what club legend Gary Mabbutt has said about the chances of Harry Kane returning to N17.

Even though Kane said last week that he can see himself staying at Bayern Munich for a while, the speculation linking the striker with a return to the Premier League is not going away.

If the England captain does decide to return to these shores, Tottenham’s first-refusal clause for Kane will give the Lilywhites an advantage over other suitors.

However, that is not at the forefront of the striker’s mind at the moment, according to Fabrizio Romano, who said a few days ago that Kane is fully focused on helping Bayern win the Champions League this season.

Gary Mabbutt weighs in on Tottenham’s chances of re-signing Harry Kane

The one thing that Spurs fans will be encouraged by is the fact that Thomas Frank himself said that he would love to have Kane back at Tottenham.

That is a clear statement of intent from the Dane, who usually refuses to talk about players who are not under contract at Spurs.

Mabbutt has insisted that he can see the 33-year-old returning to N17 when he does eventually decide to leave the Allianz Arena.

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The former Tottenham captain said about Kane (via TBR Football): “I think the way it was all done when he left the club to join Bayern Munich, there is very much an opportunity.

“The doors have been left wide open for him to come back if he ever chooses to come back to us. So yes, I see no reason why he shouldn’t and who knows? It could well be in the next couple of years.”

Kane looks unlikely to return to Spurs next summer

According to reports from Germany, Kane would have to inform Bayern of his decision to leave by the end of January in order for the striker’s £57m clause to become active next summer.

The striker has certainly not given any indication that he is going to express a transfer desire to the Bundesliga giants.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly near the front of the queue to land one of the most exciting young talents in Brazilian football, and Spurs fans will love what the teenager’s manager has just said about him.

Over recent weeks, Spurs Web has relayed several reports stating that Tottenham’s scouts have made trips to Brazil to watch Vasco Da Gama winger Rayan.

Some sources have said that Tottenham have done groundwork on securing a work permit for Rayan ahead of a potential January transfer.

The wide-forward is thought to have a release clause of €40m (£34.3m) in his contract, but it has emerged over recent days that Spurs could face competition from the likes of Chelsea and Brighton for Rayan’s signature.

Vasco Da Gama manager gives a glowing endorsement of Tottenham target Rayan

Globo Esporte have now pointed out that the teenager has now reached a new level of consistency and is now among the best players under 20 years of age in Brazilian football.

The report says that Rayan has now become the leading U20 scorer in the country alongside Palmeiras’ Vitor Roque, and players who have previously achieved that feat include names like Neymar, Gabriel Jesus, Rodrygo, Marcos Leonardo and Estevao.

The outlet quotes Vaso manager Fernando Diniz as saying that the Tottenham Hotspur target is a ‘complete’ forward with very few weaknesses to his game.

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Diniz said about the young starlet: “He’s a very different player, one of the few forwards in Brazil who is complete. Tall, fast, left-footed, strong in the air, and capable of playing across the front line.

“He tracks back well, helps defensively, and can play as a winger, a false nine, a centre-forward, or on the opposite flank.”

Spurs warned that Rayan’s value may increase

Globo Esporte say that it is down to Rayan’s completeness and his consistency that he has become a target for Spurs and Aston Villa, who are both said to be circling over the forward.

The outlet claims that the teenager, who is under contract until 2026, is valued by Vasco at around €30m (£25.7m) ahead of the January window.

However, the publication warns that if Rayan continues developing at the pace that he is, his valuation could rise before the transfer window reopens.

A highly-rated Tottenham youngster joined the senior England squad for training at Hotspur Way on Monday.

Djed Spence is the only Tottenham representative in the current England set-up, with James Maddison and Dominic Solanke both out with injuries at the moment.

Spence received rave reviews after his first England start against Wales last week, with the Spurs man impressing at left-back for the Three Lions.

The 25-year-old came against a familiar face in England’s 3-0 win against the Dragons, and Spence aimed a cheeky dig at Brennan Johnson after marking his Tottenham teammate out of the game at Wembley.

Tottenham striker trains with Harry Kane and co

While the full-back may have been the only Spurs representative in Thomas Tuchel’s squad, another Tottenham man got the opportunity to train with the senior squad.

England confirmed that Dane Scarlett joined Harry Kane, Spence and others in Monday morning’s training session at Hotspur Way.

Spurs fans will love that in the picture posted by England’s official social media account, club legend Kane is seen in the background alongside Scarlett, who would have idolised Tottenham’s record goalscorer while coming through the ranks of the academy.

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Spurs fans want to see Scarlett handed opportunities

The young striker’s stock has dropped over the last couple of years, with Alasdair Gold stating that this is a make-or-break season for Scarlett and his hopes of making it at Tottenham.

However, the striker is yet to get any game time this season, with only his two competitive appearances coming for Tottenham’s Under-21s, for whom the striker has a goal and an assist.

Footage has emerged of two of Mikey Moore’s three goals for England’s Under-19s, and one of those is an impressive finish from the Tottenham starlet.

Mikey Moore has had a tough start to his loan spell at Rangers, with the teenager coming under criticism from the media for his performances.

The 18-year-old has not been helped by the turmoil off the pitch at the Scottish side, who are now looking for a new manager after sacking Russel Martin.

The change in management at Rangers may not be bad for the teenager, as it was previously reported that Moore is unhappy with the role he was given by Russel Martin.

Video: Watch two of Moore’s three goals against Belgium U19

While things may not be going to plan for Moore at club level, he did not fail to impress while away on international duty with England’s U19s.

Moore hit his first hat-trick for England U19s on Saturday as they emerged 4-1 winners over Belgium.

Footage of two of the Tottenham Hotspur starlet’s strikes has now been shared on social media by The Secret Scout, and it includes one impressive finish by the youngster, who lobbed the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

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Tottenham may recall Mikey Moore in January

According to reports, Tottenham are concerned about Moore’s situation at Rangers and are carefully considering recalling him in January.

Sources have indicated that several Championship sides have already expressed an interest in signing Moore on loan during the upcoming transfer window.

Tottenham’s Xavi Simons came off the bench and impressed for the Netherlands as they thrashed Finland in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

The Dutch playmaker has not hit the ground running at Tottenham Hotspur since his big-money move from RB Leipzig, but he has shown some glimpses of his quality of late.

In fact, Thomas Frank felt that Xavi Simons’ performance against Leeds was his best in a Spurs shirt so far, with the 22-year-old proving the Lilywhites’ main creative fulcrum at Elland Road.

Many remain confident that Xavi will prove an astute signing for Spurs, and the attacking midfielder continued his impressive form during the international break.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons sets up a goal during Netherlands cameo

The Spurs star did not start for the Netherlands against Finland in the Johan Cruijff Arena, but he did come on as a 79th-minute substitute in place of Donyell Malen.

It took Xavi just five minutes to make an impact as he played a through ball to Cody Gakpo, who lashed home from outside the box to make it 4-0.

Meanwhile, Micky van de Ven got 71 minutes under his belt at left-back, which has become his main position in the Netherlands set-up.

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The Oranje are now sitting pretty at the top of Group G, three points clear of second-placed Poland.

Xavi was used as a winger once again

Xavi has made it clear that he prefers playing centrally, and he has certainly been much better in the middle for Tottenham than he has been out wide.

Spurs fans have been calling for Frank to use Xavi as a number ten, but it appears that his international boss also sees him as a wide option.

Once again, Ronald Koeman played the Spurs man on the right of the front three when he brought him on, which was the same role that the Netherlands boss employed him in his last appearance against Poland last month.

A Tottenham midfielder made his first competitive appearance of the season on Sunday, but it ended horribly as he was forced off with another injury.

Tottenham’s injury list has been piling up at the start of the season, but key players are now on the mend for the Lilywhites.

Randal Kolo Muani may be set for his first Premier League appearance against Aston Villa after coming through a behind-closed-doors friendly unscathed at Hotspur Way.

However, one experienced Spurs star, who has been struggling with an injury since the start of the summer, will not be featuring anytime soon after what happened on Sunday.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma was forced off with an injury

Bissouma’s knee injury was the reason why his proposed summer move to Turkey fell through, and the 28-year-old has still not made a single appearance for Tottenham this season.

He played his first competitive match of the campaign on Sunday night, coming on as a 66th-minute substitute for Mali against Madagascar.

Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan for the midfielder, with Tottenham revealing on their official website that Bissouma had to be stretchered off just six minutes later due to an injury.

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They do not provide any information on the nature of the injury, but it will not be good news for the former Brighton man if it has to do with the same knee which has been troubling him for the past few months.

Bissouma’s latest setback is a blow for Tottenham

The Mali international’s injury may not affect Thomas Frank’s plans too much, as the midfielder is evidently way down the Dane’s pecking order.

However, transfer interest has already been building up for Bissouma ahead of the January window, and this may dent Tottenham’s hopes of getting a decent fee for him.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to be well represented at next summer’s World Cup, with several of their stars already confirming their places at the 2026 tournament, while others remain on the verge of sealing qualification.

It is a World Cup year, and several Tottenham Hotspur players will be hoping they can represent their nations at the 2026 finals.

The current international break has seen over 30 Tottenham stars jet off to join up with their national teams, with some edging ever closer to confirming a spot in next summer’s tournament.

However, a few are still waiting to book their place and could yet do so before returning to Hotspur Way at the end of the international window.

Tottenham stars who have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup will be played across three nations for the first time, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico set to host the tournament in June and July.

At present, six Tottenham players have already secured qualification for next year’s finals, following results from the recent round of international fixtures.

Here are the Spurs players who have booked a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

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Spurs players still in the hunt for qualification

While a handful of Tottenham players have already sealed their spots, others remain in contention and could confirm qualification before the October international break concludes.

Pape Matar Sarr’s Senegal will qualify if they defeat Mauritania on Tuesday night (14 October). A draw could also be enough, provided DR Congo do not record an eight-goal swing against South Sudan.

Randal Kolo Muani and France could book their ticket to the World Cup on Monday (13 October) with a win over Iceland. They will, however, need Ukraine to drop points against Azerbaijan to guarantee qualification.

Djed Spence, James Maddison, and Dominic Solanke’s England side can qualify on Tuesday (14 October) by defeating Latvia. Their progress also depends on Serbia failing to take maximum points from their fixtures against Albania and Andorra.

While on loan Joao Palhinha’s Portugal will secure qualification with a victory over Hungary on Tuesday (14 October), provided Armenia drops points in their clash with the Republic of Ireland.

Tottenham Hotspur could be boosted by the return of two injured players this weekend when they take on Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Club football has taken a back seat in the last week as the October international break continues, with nations battling for a place in the 2026 World Cup finals.

The pause, however, is nearing its end, and attention will soon swing back to club action, with Tottenham Hotspur preparing for the return of Premier League football.

Thomas Frank’s side is set to face Aston Villa on Sunday, and the Dane could be handed a timely boost with several key players edging closer to a comeback.

Tottenham injury boost ahead of Aston Villa clash

Frank has had to contend with a frustrating injury list this season, but that situation may finally ease with as many as four players pushing to return this weekend.

According to The Standard, Randal Kolo Muani is among those who could make a comeback against Aston Villa.

The French forward, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, has been sidelined for five matches with a dead leg but returned to action in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford during the international break, playing 45 minutes.

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Having built up fitness at Hotspur Way and with another week of full training ahead, Kolo Muani is now in contention to feature in Frank’s squad for the Villa game and may even push for a full debut.

Kota Takai is another who could hand Spurs a lift after a spell on the sidelines. The Japan international, who joined from Kawasaki Frontale in a £5 million move, has been recovering from a plantar fascia issue but returned to full training earlier this month.

Frank confirmed that Takai had been “getting better and better”, suggesting the defender could soon be available for selection if he maintains his current progress.

The 21-year-old has yet to make his competitive debut for Tottenham but could be in line to feature shortly after the international break.

Radu Dragusin is nearing full fitness

Radu Dragusin is also on the comeback trail. The Romanian defender has been working his way back from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in January.

Having returned to training in September, he is expected to be reintroduced gradually, but a return to match action within the next few weeks now looks likely.

Dominic Solanke has been given a predicted return of November 2025, although Thomas Frank will likely provide a post-surgery update later this week.