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Thomas Frank has selected Cristian Romero as his Tottenham captain, but he still needs to identify other players in his squad with the ability to lead.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a fairly positive start to the new season. Sitting third in the Premier League table is a pleasant contrast to the previous campaign, and their Champions League campaign kicked off with a victory.

The Tottenham first-team squad looks to be in good shape and there is a good balance between experienced players and bright prospects.

Thomas Frank will be looking to raise up leaders who can drive the team forward. With Heung-min Son gone and James Maddison likely injured for most of the season, Spurs will need more players to step up and show they can be a strong voice in the dressing room.

Five Tottenham players Thomas Frank should add to his leadership group

Dejan Kulusevski – Amidst the chaos of last season, Kulusevski emerged as a strong voice in the Tottenham squad. He demanded more from his teammates and failed to accept their abysmal domestic form. The Swede led by example for the most part and was exceptional during the first half of the season. He should definitely be considered as one of the team’s leaders when he returns from injury.

Pedro Porro – The Spanish right-back did the complete opposite of Kulusevski last season. He looked way off the required level, leaving ridiculous amounts of space behind him for attackers to exploit. However, Porro has been far better in recent months and is first-choice in his position by some distance. He is now 26 years old and has grown as a player since he arrived at Spurs.

Rodrigo Bentancur – Antonio Conte and Ange Postecoglou both saw Bentancur as a first-team player and now Frank does too. The midfielder is good at what he does and is one of the most senior players at the club. Bentancur has had his moments of madness, but he has the capabilities to step up and lead.

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Joao Palhinha – Palhinha is technically still a Bayern Munich player, but his move to Spurs could well be made permanent in the near future. The 30-year-old has already become a heavy hitter in the middle of the pitch for Tottenham and looks like he could be trusted handling the responsibility of leadership.

Guglielmo Vicario – When Vicario arrived at Tottenham, he looked like the best sweeper-keeper in the world. Fast forward a few months and he was being heavily criticised for his set-piece struggles. However, the Italian has had a good start to the season and seems to have earned the favour of his manager. Vicario is certainly passionate and while he does not look suited to a captaincy role, he should be considered for some form of leadership in the squad.

James Maddison should resume his role at Spurs when he returns

Maddison is another player who should take his place amongst the leaders at Tottenham. The player says what he thinks. In fact, Maddison recently slammed VAR after Romero’s goal against West Ham was disallowed.

The attacking midfielder already has experience wearing the captain’s armband and he is someone many of his teammates will look to when he comes back from injury.

Luka Vuskovic has received two pieces of good news over the last 24 hours following a moment of madness from the Tottenham starlet in his home debut for Hamburg last Saturday.

Vuskovic found the back of the net in Hamburg’s 2-1 win over Heidenheim, making history by becoming the first HSV player to score in the Bundesliga for seven years.

However, the 18-year-old missed another golden opportunity to double his side’s lead in the first half and proceeded to punch the goal posts in frustration.

After the game, Vuskovic admitted that he may have broken his finger when he punched the goal frame, which would have certainly been an embarrassing way to pick up an injury.

Luka Vuskovic receives good news on his finger

However, according to a report in Bild, Vuskovic has received good news on his feared injury. Examinations have revealed that the Tottenham Hotspur loanee has not fractured his finger and has only sustained minor bruises.

The teenager has thus been given the ‘all clear’ by Hamburg’s medical staff and is available to face Union Berlin on Sunday, and that is not the only piece of good news he has received.

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Vuskovic called up to the Croatian national side

Vuskovic made his senior debut for Croatia in the summer, and it appears that the Tottenham man has impressed manager Zlatko Dalic.

We know that because Dalic has now named the young centre-back in the Croatia squad for October’s World Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Gibraltar.

Mikey Moore is now at the centre of a tug of war between two national boards, as attempts have been made to change the Tottenham starlet’s international allegiances.

Moore is the youngest player to ever represent Tottenham, and there are big hopes on the teenager at Hotspur Way, with many seeing him as one of the best young talents to come out of the club’s academy recently.

Moore has not had the best of starts to his loan spell at Rangers, but he did impress in their most recent win over Hibernian, registering an assist.

The 18-year-old now faces a big decision as he has been approached about changing his international allegiance.

Mikey Moore is being asked to abandon England for Wales

Moore, who was born in Central London, has represented England from Under-15s to the Under-19s level.

However, according to The Sun, the Tottenham man qualifies to represent Wales in international football through a grandparent.

Wales manager Craig Bellamy has reportedly spoken to the teenager about changing his allegiance from the Three Lions to the Dragons.

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The Tottenham Hotspur attacker thus potentially faces a very big decision before next summer’s World Cup.

Why Mikey Moore should not be in a hurry to take up Wales’ offer

One would imagine that the Spurs youngster’s ultimate dream would be to play for England, but the opportunity to potentially play in the World Cup next summer would be extremely tempting.

According to The Sun, players are allowed to change allegiances as long as they have played no more than three competitive matches at the senior level prior to them turning 21.

Moore does not need to be in a hurry, and he certainly has the talent to potentially be knocking on the England door within the next 18 months.

Tottenham Hotspur will take on Doncaster Rovers in the Carabao Cup third round and this stage of the competition has sometimes been a stumbling block in the past.

Thomas Frank will begin his first Carabao Cup campaign as Tottenham Hotspur manager and he will be hoping to succeed where other coaches have failed. This may be the only domestic competition Spurs have won, but that does not mean the club have a good record.

Tottenham were the losing finalists in 2009, 2015 and 2021, but many other seasons have seen them crash out in the early rounds of the tournament. Spurs will be looking to avoid this happening in this year’s third round, but Doncaster will be eager to cause an upset.

Here are Tottenham’s Carabao Cup third-round results from the previous 10 seasons, beginning with their most recent campaign:

Tottenham Carabao Cup third round results

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Spurs must improve their third-round record

Spurs have won five and drawn three of their third-round matches in the past 10 seasons, which is not an overly convincing record. On top of this, two of those victories required penalty shootouts and two late goals were needed against Coventry last season.

Doncaster might not seem like a difficult draw, but neither did Colchester in 2019. Spurs could really do with a convincing victory to show they are serious about wanting to win the League Cup.

Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham has already sparked a visible shift on the pitch, and while the results have been impressive, it is the noticeable improvement of certain players that has truly caught the eye.

Tottenham Hotspur have undergone a managerial change this summer, with Ange Postecoglou replaced by Thomas Frank in the Spurs dugout.

Frank has already overseen a handful of games as Tottenham boss, and there is already a clear shift in approach when compared to last season.

Tottenham currently sit third in the Premier League table, having suffered just one defeat in their opening five matches, while also winning their first Champions League tie under Frank.

Not only have results improved, but individual performances have also gone up a level this season under Frank’s tactical ideas, and several players in particular look to be thriving.

Pape Matar Sarr is enjoying an advanced midfield role

So far under Thomas Frank, we have seen several players used in the number ten position in the absence of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

One of those players has been Pape Matar Sarr, who has been deployed further forward and seems to have relished the responsibility.

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The midfielder already has a goal to his name this season, but it is not just his finishing that makes him stand out in this role; it is also his relentless pressing higher up the pitch that has caught attention.

Under Postecoglou, Sarr was often used in a deeper role as an eight, but Frank has made the tactical switch of moving him further forward to cover the absence of his main creators, and it has paid off.

Not only does this give Sarr licence to play in advanced areas, but his versatility also means Frank can drop him deeper if needed, which adds further flexibility to Tottenham’s midfield, a role that is clearly benefiting the midfielder.

Cristian Romero thriving with captaincy at Tottenham

Thomas Frank’s influence on Cristian Romero has been more mental than tactical, as the Argentine has always been a high-level defender when at his best.

It was no surprise that Romero attracted heavy transfer speculation in the summer, with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid both said to have held an interest. Spurs, however, kept hold of their star centre-back and also handed him the captaincy.

That added responsibility, coupled with Frank’s defensive structure, has elevated Romero’s game. His presence at the back now brings a calm assurance, something he has often been accused of lacking in the past, and Tottenham look all the stronger for it.

Micky van de Ven adds goalscoring threat to Spurs backline

Micky van de Ven has already found the net this season, which is an important boost for Tottenham given their need to spread goals throughout the side.

Last season, Spurs struggled both with defending set-pieces and with scoring from them, but this could change under Frank, with van de Ven already showing signs of improvement in that area.

His goal came in the second phase of a set play rather than directly from it, but it highlighted his threat in the box and his ability to attack loose balls.

Frank has hinted that he wants van de Ven to contribute more goals, which suggests clear work on the training ground.

Having been part of a defence that leaked heavily last season, the fact Spurs have conceded just three in five games under Frank shows both his defensive improvement and the added confidence it gives defenders like van de Ven to step forward and contribute at the other end.

Mohammed Kudus making right wing role his own

Mohammed Kudus may be a new signing, but he is another player who has already benefitted from Thomas Frank’s tactical set-up.

The Ghana international has started every Premier League game so far this season on the right wing, which underlines the manager’s faith in him. In return, Kudus has provided four assists, already surpassing his tally from last term.

Kudus not only offers creativity, but he also provides an outlet for Tottenham when under pressure, allowing the team to break out with his pace and ball-carrying.

Frank’s system appears tailor-made for him, and it will be difficult for any other player to displace him from that right-sided role.

Richarlison thriving in number nine role for Tottenham

Richarlison is another player to have hit form early under Thomas Frank, with the Brazilian scoring three goals from four league starts.

After an injury-hit campaign last season, the centre-forward looks sharp again, with his pressing, hold-up play and finishing improving with each passing week.

With Dominic Solanke currently sidelined and Randal Kolo Muani still not match sharp, Richarlison has had the number nine role all to himself, and he is making the most of it.

Frank’s system plays to his strengths, and Spurs are reaping the rewards of a forward rediscovering his confidence.

Thomas Frank has revealed one Tottenham Hotspur player who will start the Carabao Cup third-round clash against Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday.

Since completing his switch from Brentford to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer transfer window, Thomas Frank has not rotated his squad much, particularly in defence, with several players already racking up heavy minutes this season.

Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro and Djed Spence have all featured heavily in the backline, forming the core of Frank’s trusted defence as Spurs continue their solid start to the campaign.

However, with the Carabao Cup set to return this midweek, there is now a strong chance that Frank will look to reshuffle his side, and that could include resting Vicario in goal for the first time this season.

Thomas Frank discusses Antonin Kinsky ahead of Tottenham vs Doncaster

Antonin Kinsky has remained the backup option to Guglielmo Vicario since joining Tottenham, and while the Czech goalkeeper is yet to make an appearance this season, the third-round Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers could provide him with his first taste of action in a Spurs shirt.

Speaking about Kinsky ahead of the game, Frank admitted that the 22-year-old made a brave decision in leaving his former club to join Tottenham, and suggested that his future at the club is bright.

The Spurs boss told football.london: “Antonin will start tomorrow, so I’m very happy with him as a goalkeeper. I think he’s a very good goalkeeper and I think he’s got very good potential.

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“For any player that is not starting, they’re not happy. Some probably understand it a bit more, or outfielder sometimes. If you’re young, you try to get your way into it, but at a certain stage you always want to play.

“The same a bit with the goalkeeper. The easy thing for Antonin was to stay at his former club and now it’s a bigger stage, a bigger challenge. I think he’s got a great future here at Tottenham. I like what I see from him. He just needs to keep training well and doing well.”

Why Antonin Kinsky must stay prepared at Tottenham

While Vicario has been an important part of Tottenham’s progress since his arrival, there is no denying that the Italian has the occasional mistake in him.

Only last weekend against Brighton and Hove Albion, Vicario’s handling error from Ayari’s strike gifted the Seagulls a two-goal lead, marking his first real blunder of the campaign.

It is also worth remembering that at times last season, Vicario went through a spell of poor form where mistakes kept creeping into his game, and that is exactly why Kinsky must remain sharp and focused, because his opportunity could come sooner than expected if the Italian experiences another rough patch.

Tottenham’s Richarlison has taken to social media to poke fun at the Ballon d’Or after the 2025 award winner was announced on Monday.

Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Ousmane Dembele has won the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, just beating out Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal.

There was not a single Tottenham Hotspur player nominated for the award despite their Europa League success, which is not surprising considering how poor the Lilywhites were domestically last season.

However, that did not stop Richarlison from taking to social media to make a joke at the award’s expense.

Tottenham’s Richarlison crowns himself as the Ballon d’Or winner

The Tottenham striker is known for his dry and at times childish humour on social media, and he did not disappoint again on Monday.

After the final award list was announced, Richarlison photoshopped himself holding up the Ballon d’Or and posted the image on social media.

The Tottenham striker’s image included the caption: “This is not fake”

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Spurs legend gets disrespected once again in Ballon d’Or list

One man many expected to be high up in the list was Harry Kane, who has been one of the most prolific forwards in Europe over the last two seasons.

The 32-year-old did not get the credit he deserved at Spurs, and many would have thought that the move to Bayern Munich would put him in the spotlight for these kinds of prizes.

One has to go back 16 years for the last time Tottenham Hotspur played Doncaster Rovers, and it was an evening to remember for the Lilywhites, with some fan favourites getting on the scoresheet.

Some Tottenham players have said they are hungry to win more silverware after their Europa League triumph in Bilbao back in May.

The Carabao Cup offers Spurs the best chance of winning trophies in back-to-back seasons, and they kick off their campaign with a clash at Doncaster at home.

Thomas Frank is expected to rotate his squad significantly against Doncaster, and the game provides a great opportunity for some of Spurs’ squad players to impress.

Tottenham’s memorable night at Doncaster in 2009

The last time Tottenham Hotspur played Doncaster was back in 2009, and that was also a League Cup clash, played at the Eco-Power Stadium, which was known as the Keepmoat Stadium at the time.

Peter Crouch made his first start for the Lilywhites following his move from Portsmouth in the summer, and he opened his account in front of goal for Spurs while fan favourite, Romano Pavlyuchenko, also found the back of the net. Danny Rose even made his Tottenham debut off the bench.

David Bentley, Tom Huddlestone and Jamie O’Hara were Tottenham’s other three goalscorers, while the likes of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Giovani Dos Santos also featured.

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Watch the highlights below:

Tottenham’s record against Doncaster

According to Tottenham’s official website, Spurs have played against Doncaster on nine occasions in their history. Their first ever meeting was a Second Division clash in December 1935, with Rovers running out 2-1 winners.

Thomas Frank has opened up on his working relationship with Vinai Venkatesham, giving Tottenham fans an insight into how the new structure at the club is already beginning to take shape.

Tottenham Hotspur have entered a new chapter, one that began with the departure of long-serving chairman Daniel Levy.

Thomas Frank’s side marked the start of this fresh regime with a win over London rivals West Ham United, and they are yet to taste defeat under the new leadership.

Levy’s 24-year reign brought just two trophies, and there is now a clear sense around the club that Tottenham are determined to improve on that record with the changes being made at the boardroom level.

Thomas Frank praises Vinai Venkatesham’s approach at Tottenham

The club’s restructuring has seen Vinai Venkatesham step in as CEO, with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the football side of operations.

Speaking about his early impressions of working alongside Venkatesham, Thomas Frank revealed that he has been struck by the new chief executive’s character and decision-making process, while stressing how valuable his calmness is in the often-heated world of football.

Speaking to Football.London, Frank said, “I really like working together with Vinai. Obviously, I did not know him before I joined Spurs.

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“From day one, he comes across like a fantastic person. Really a person that I think understands people and is very approachable.

“As far as I learned or experienced his processes, calm, good processes, listen, and from that he takes good, calm decisions. That is a strength in this sometimes a tiny bit emotional football world.”

Spurs fans have already heard a lot from Venkatesham

Tottenham supporters are not strangers to Venkatesham, who has been present at a number of matches since his arrival.

He has also made regular appearances across the club’s own channels, often taking time to explain structural changes and outline Tottenham’s long-term plans, something that Spurs are looking to improve on in this new era.

Most recently, Venkatesham revealed how the Lewis family have ambitious long-term aims for Tottenham since the departure of Daniel Levy.

The overall ambition of Tottenham to improve on the football pitch is clear, and if it is to be achieved, then it is vital that the manager and the chief executive maintain a strong working relationship, as unity across all levels of the club will be the driving force behind success.

Thomas Frank is set to field a strong Tottenham XI in the Carabao Cup clash against Doncaster Rovers, although the manager has hinted that some youngsters may be given a place on the bench.

Tottenham Hotspur’s Carabao Cup campaign gets underway this Wednesday, with League One side Doncaster Rovers travelling to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It will be a tie Thomas Frank knows his side must approach with the right mentality, as the new Spurs boss looks to lay down a marker in the competition.

With Tottenham aiming to compete on multiple fronts this season, the Carabao Cup presents another opportunity to keep silverware hopes alive, particularly after their Europa League success last term.

Thomas Frank wants a strong Tottenham team against Doncaster Rovers

Frank has yet to claim a major trophy in his managerial career, and he knows full well that going deep into this competition would provide a real chance to finally deliver silverware.

The Tottenham boss has now stressed that Spurs will not be taking Doncaster lightly and admitted there will be some rotation, but the priority remains victory.

Speaking ahead of the tie, Frank told the club’s official channel: “We are really looking forward to it. We will do everything we can to win it. Naturally there will be a little bit of rotation.

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‘They have Grant McCann who I know very well. I faced him in the Championship. We need to play at our highest level and get into the next round.”

When asked about Tottenham’s approach to the Carabao Cup this season, Frank was very clear about his intentions: “We need to take one game at a time. It is about winning the next one. There is no reason to speak about what may happen in the future.”

He also reflected on lessons from past cup campaigns, pointing to how unpredictable knockout football can be: “It definitely taught me everything is possible. We went in very focused and very aware of what could happen. Gillingham, we put a very strong team out there.

“Football, anything can happen. It is a low-scoring game. Doncaster are doing well in League One. We need to be on it.”

Spurs boss Thomas Frank hints at bench places for youngsters

Frank also recognises that squad depth will play a crucial role across the season, and while he insists his starting line-ups will always be strong, he admitted there may be room for young players to feature from the bench.

Explaining his approach to cup competitions, Frank said: “It is a balance. I would like us to compete in all four tournaments across the year. If you are going to do that, you need to pick the right team all the time.

“I think every time we put a team out there it is super strong. We need to hit that perfect number of players that rotate and a strong team. It will be a strong team tomorrow.”

He also revealed that opportunities could arise for academy talents who have impressed in youth football: “I think it will be a great opportunity to have some of the young ones on the bench.

“It is a privilege to be able to give someone a debut. Obviously, they have to show it in U18s, U21s, national team and with us to get the opportunity.”