Football London

When you cast your mind back to Tottenham in the late 2000s, names like Gareth Bale, Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric spring to mind. They were players who epitomised that period with their dynamism, finesse and game-changing quality.

Yet, hidden among them was a player who, at least according to former Spurs striker Darren Bent, eclipsed them all with the ball at his feet: Adel Taarabt.

Taarabt was one of the game's great enigmas - a prodigy hyped for stardom, whose sheer audacity and street-born creativity made him unmissable. His touch, imagination and effortless swagger even saw him likened to the great Zinedine Zidane.

But while the Moroccan's artistry was undeniable, turning flair into consistent end product often proved elusive, something Bent could never quite fathom. "It's a tough one because he had all the attributes," the 41-year-old told the Express. "He was strong, powerful, he had unbelievable feet... he's got the best feet I've ever seen in terms of dribbling, going past people.

"A couple of times [at Spurs] he showed flashes [of his brilliance]... but I don't know why, it just didn't happen for him in the Premier League."

Taarabt first arrived in north London in January 2007 as an ambitious 17-year-old from Lens, brimming with potential. Initially just a loan signing, he showcased enough magic in training and reserve matches for Tottenham to make the deal permanent within half a year.

Still, his Spurs career never truly took off. Minutes on the pitch were limited, especially under Juande Ramos, and his reputation became clouded by accusations of attitude problems and his obvious gifts too often sat unused on the bench.

It wasn't until a switch to Championship side QPR that Taarabt's career properly began. At Loftus Road, he became the star attraction, thrilling fans with audacious flicks, mazy runs and long-range strikes. In 2011, he was central to the club's promotion push, inspiring the Rs back to the Premier League after more than a decade away.

Later came a loan at Fulham, where he briefly reunited with Bent, followed by a short adventure at European giants AC Milan. Eventually, he settled in Portugal with Benfica, where he spent five years and finally established himself with more consistency.

For Bent, Taarabt was always worth the effort. Yes, he was unpredictable, but beneath the mercurial talent was a likeable character who simply required the right coach to bring out his best.

"He really made his mark that year at QPR in the Championship when he got promoted where he won Top Goal Scorer of the Year, Best Player," Bent recalled. "I think he won all the awards but I do think sometimes managers have to play their part. I think Neil Warnock knew how to get the best out of him in terms of how to press the right buttons at the right time.

"He was a great guy, one of my favourite guys, even though he found it tough at Tottenham. As a person, you really wanted him to succeed because we saw it in training, we saw how good he can be. He was always smiling, he was always joking, he was always laughing.

"So I'm glad that when he left England and he went to Benfica it really worked for him and he did really well there because again, his ability was top drawer. But for whatever reason, sometimes it doesn't work out, right?

"You come to England and people just don't excel like you'd expect them to but as a person, what a guy. I still speak to him now, fantastic team-mate and a really good person."

Bent, now a prominent voice on talkSPORT, is part of the exclusive group of just 34 players to have scored 100 or more Premier League goals. He joined Spurs from Charlton in 2007 for a club-record £16.5million and went to score 25 goals in 79 matches before leaving for Sunderland in 2009 for the same price.

Archie Gray made an emotional return to Leeds United on Saturday, even though he never made it onto the pitch against his former side. Tottenham came away 2-1 victors at Elland Road, but it appears the trip to Yorkshire was worth more than three points to the versatile Spurs star.

The 19-year-old, who signed for Tottenham from Leeds little more than a year ago, applauded all four stands following the full-time whistle to indicate his appreciation for the club that nurtured him throughout his youth. The Lilywhites paid their Premier League rivals between £25million and £30m, while Joe Rodon completed a permanent move in the opposite direction.

And Gray still has a place in the hearts of Leeds supporters. They ensured the teenage star knew exactly how they felt about him despite his exit more than 12 months before.

"You're Leeds and you know you are," the home crowd sang as Gray warmed up. The youngster could not help but produce smile.

The England youth international was soon jogging off but senior teammate Ben Davies, appeared to suggest that he should have acknowledged the fans showing their feelings.

Gray made no mistake at full-time however, in one marked an emotional return. The ex-Leeds man made no attempt to hide that even before the game either.

Speaking ahead of the match, Gray revealed his excitement to return to make the trip to his former stomping ground. “I can’t wait," he said.

"That’s my home, that’s where I’ve been raised and I’ve got so much love for Leeds but I’m playing for Tottenham now, we’ve obviously got a job to do at the weekend and we’re looking forward to that.

“Already it feels a little bit weird that we’re going to be playing against a team where I’ve spent virtually my whole life. ’m so grateful for everything that they’ve done for me and I’m so proud to be from Leeds and be one of their own.

"Of course, it’s going to be unusual going back there this weekend, but we’ve got a job to do.”

Spurs boss Thomas Frank had praise for their opponents following the game too. Asked about putting an end to Leeds' unbeaten streak at home which had lasted more than a year, Frank reflected on the achievement.

"By the way, I've been in the Championship for many years," he said. "So I know how difficult a league it is and I always respect it.

"So, any weaknesses? I think before this game, and I think it's the same today, they concede very little chances on the XG. So if you look at the XG today, also in that sense they concede very little.

"I think the one that maybe is hidden a little bit from the performance today is the thing that we had five or six top situations where we flashed the ball across the box, where we need to be there. And then it's maybe two goals and an XG of two.

"But I think I rather want to praise Leeds. I think they were good today. I think they were difficult to play against. I think they defended well and I felt they were very brave also on the ball."

Thomas Frank had plenty of praise for his players after Tottenham's 2-1 win at Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Spurs opened the scoring when Mohammed Kudus picked out the run of Mathys Tel and the Frenchman struck an early effort that deflected past Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Kudus wasted a good opportunity to double Spurs' tally with a shot over the bar before Leeds levelled on 34 minutes. Guglielmo Vicario pushed aside Brenden Aaronson's deflected shot only for Noah Okafor to react faster than Destiny Udogie to bury the loose ball.

Tel sent a looping header against the crossbar from Wilson Odobert's cross in added time at the end of the first half.

Spurs retook the lead just before the hour when Kudus ran on to a loose ball, cut inside and hit a low shot that deflected into the bottom corner. Both sides had chances in the second period with Vicario making a big save from Joel Piroe in the final stages to help the visitors grab the victory.

Our Tottenham correspondent Alasdair Gold was among those putting the questions to Frank after the game. Here's the full transcript from the press conference at Elland Road.

What's your initial reaction to a hard-fought win?

Extremely happy with the win. I think if you want to build any successful team, you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness. No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win. I think we are building that more and more in the team.

Let's say in the last 10-15, where they pushed us back and we also dropped a little back. But I thought it was throughout the game... I actually think that until the 80th minute, I'm very happy with those 80 minutes, give or take. We looked very solid defensively.

I think we gave the goal away, which is like a cross, deflected shot. And then, of course, I know they hit the post, but I think it looks more dangerous than it is. That's what we gave away until the 80th minute.

But I think we created two goals and other very good and dangerous situations and chances. So very happy with that. We need a little bit of surviving and a couple of good saves from Vicario.

Tottenham fans see the team second in the league - you must be delighted with your overall start?

Yeah of course I am. I think 14 points in seven is two on average. That's very good. So that overall start I'm happy with. I'm extremely happy that we now on the road have won three and a draw. Which I think that's part of that, if you want to achieve anything, you need to do that. So overall start, a good start, but we need to continue of course.

How important was it for Mathys Tel to get off the mark?

So, so almost emotional about him. So happy for him. I think the character he's shown from a young man just really impressed me from day one. But of course after a setback, not coming in the Champions League squad, not being an established player. Maybe playing a good position where I really can see him play and I think he's taking steps. Also been picked a little bit for the left. So just keep training well, which he does. He trains well every day.

Stay at home, when we went the Bodo the whole team, trained well. Just ready today. And also I think a big praise to Cameron [Campbell] and Justin [Cochrane] to work with Mathys. And the way we worked with him from a fine game against West Ham as a striker to a better game against Doncaster, where he arrives more in the right areas.

I know he could have scored two goals but as I say he arrives there, because we trained and we showed clips. To the next level today, where I think he worked hard, he scored a good goal. I know there was a little deflection, but the connection was good. He has a header, other good situations. So very, very pleased.

Did you see strands of the attacking play starting to gel with those four front players?

I think it looked promising today at times. I liked Xavi as a ten. I think that was his best game for us. There's still more to come, but I think he had some really good actions in there. Mo again getting his goal, which I'm pleased with. It was about time he scored that goal. But no, I'm so pleased for him. So you just see he looked a little bit more fluid.

Some might blame Vicario or Udogie for the goal but he showed character with those two big late saves?

Yeah, I agree. Two big saves. I think the one with the left hand was the biggest one. Very, very good and big save. The goal, I looked t it back. I think I need to look a little bit more calmly in it. But of course you can say, can we put the ball in another place, parry it out? And Dest could be more aware. I also think it drops, deflection, there's a few bits we could have done better there. So I don't think it's a massive mistake, if that makes sense. But I would rather want to praise two big saves.

There might not be a better centre-back pairing around than yours is there?

Thank you. I think the two there are very important. Of course the whole team is always important. The back four and all that. But I agree with you. You have the right pairing in the middle. It brings you a long way. So I think it's a big credit to the two of them.

I think it's a big credit to the performance and medical staff. They've done a very good job there and they are in a very good place, both of them right now, in terms of fitness. And especially, I'll say, I'll praise the medical and performance staff for a short turnaround with Cuti.

He got a big bruised foot from Wolves to this, but he got around and he managed to play through the pain in the end. So it also showed character and mentality.

This team seems, in the past, as if they have buckled when sides have gone at them. Your team seem to be a bit more streetwise, street fighting?

Yeah, I think football is such a competitive sport, and there'll be lots of small setbacks in a game, where you concede a corner that was maybe not a corner, or you lose the ball and you need to sprint back, or you need to defend for a long period. It's not going as well. You concede a goal after we were actually on top of the game.

We had a big chance for Mo to score 2-0. Boom, out of nowhere, out of nothing. Leeds score, but stay in the game, keep doing the right thing. I'm speaking a lot about it, showing clips what to do, and the players are really, really doing well.

You seem to know how to get over those roadblocks?

Yeah, I think the players definitely have it in them and I think they show very good character.

You're playing with a weakened squad yet still getting these good results. Is that something you have to address with the players? Are they not feeling sorry for themselves or not using that as an excuse?

Ah, that Dom and Kolo Muani are out? Yeah. I actually never speak about that. I never speak about to the players that we have injured players. I've never done that. I just look at the next one in line and do everything I can to prepare that player or those players and boost them. And I said from day one, and I more or less say once a week, that we're going to need everyone. Everyone needs to be ready, they need to help the team.

We know Djed Spence's qualities, but Destiny came in today and his left-footedness and being able to attack down that left perhaps a little bit more naturally than Djed, does it give you more natural width?

Yeah, maybe. I think actually Djed is very good at running forward with the ball as well. But there's something in the natural with the left footer. So there's something in that.

And I guess there's a reason that across the globe, most coaches tend to play a left-footed as a left-back. I'm just happy that I have three very good full-backs. I think actually Dest also showed some good bits today. He maybe should have scored himself instead of passing it to Mo.

You're the first team to win in the league at Elland Road in more than a year, I appreciate they were in the Championship for much of it, but was there a weakness you looked to exploit?

I think the one that maybe is hidden a little bit from the performance today is the thing that we had five or six top situations where we flashed the ball across the box, where we need to be there. And then it's maybe two goals and an XG of two. But I think I rather want to praise Leeds. I think they were good today. I think they were difficult to play against. I think they defended well and I felt they were very brave also on the ball.

Tottenham won 2-1 at Leeds United in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon and here are our Spurs player ratings from the match.

Thomas Frank made six changes to his Tottenham starting line-up after the last-gasp draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Spurs went into the game at Elland Road unbeaten since the last international break but had a dreadful record in such games, having lost their past seven consecutive matches before international breaks in the Premier League which came to an end at Elland Road.

Frank had captain Cristian Romero back from injury and brought Xavi Simons, Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus back into the starting line-up. Richarlison was rested with Mathys Tel up top in his place.

The first chance fell for Leeds when former Spurs man Joe Rodon sent a header from a deep free-kick against the right-hand post with Guglielmo Vicario caught in no man's land.

Spurs opened the scoring when Rodrigo Bentancur, fresh from signing his new contract, won a ball in the midfield, moved it to Kudus and the Ghanaian played it into the path of Tel. The Frenchman hit an early shot that deflected past Karl Darlow.

Kudus wasted a good chance to double Spurs' tally with an unmarked shot over the bar before Leeds punished his profligacy on 34 minutes. Vicario pushed aside Brenden Aaronson's deflected shot only for Noah Okafor to reacted faster than Destiny Udogie to bury the loose ball.

Tel sent a looping header against the crossbar from Wilson Odobert's cross in added time at the end of the first half.

Spurs retook the lead just before the hour mark when Kudus ran on to a loose ball, cut inside and hit a low shot that deflected into the bottom corner for his first goal for the club.

Both sides had chances in the second with Vicario making a big save from Joel Piroe in the final stages to ensure the hosts left with all three points.

Here are our Spurs player ratings:

Guglielmo Vicario

Made a complete mess of an early attempt to get to a free-kick that Rodon then headed against the left-hand post. Appeared to be unsighted for Aaronson's deflected shot and didn't get the cleanest of contacts. Made a good save from Calvert-Lewin with his foot early in the second half and then a huge late save from Piroe to ensure Spurs left with the victory. Big second half after that iffy first period. 7

Pedro Porro

Loose on the ball at times and had to take a few big challenges. Wasn't one of his best games but still gave everything. 5

Cristian Romero

In the wars again, taking some hits as he cleared the ball a few times. Frank had to tell him to get back in his box late on as he charged up the pitch but Spurs just look better with him at the heart of defence. 8

Micky van de Ven

A couple of errors, including a late attempt to run out the ball, but overall did the job. 7

Destiny Udogie

Went on a great run after being released by Odobert before cutting it to Kudus when he probably could have taken a shot himself. Reacted far slower than Okafor for the first half leveller. Worked hard in the second half defensively while trying to get up and down the pitch. 6

Rodrigo Bentancur

Fresh from signing his new contract, he used his strength to win the ball in the build-up to Tel's first half goal. Did plenty of covering for Porro in the first half and battled away in the second. 7

Joao Palhinha

Powered an early shot over the crossbar from just outside the Leeds box. Looked a little off the pace in the first half and picked up a yellow card for a late attempt at a block. Was better in the second period. 6

Xavi Simons

Flitted between a midfield role and playing up closer to Tel. Threatened to do something special in the first half but didn't quite manage it. Got sent away by Tel early in the second period but fluffed his pass with two team-mates waiting. Plenty of bark without the bite right now. 6

Mohammed Kudus

Looked lively from the off and put in some good balls, including the one to Tel for another assist for the Ghanaian. Skied an unmarked effort before Leeds' leveller that would have doubled Spurs' tally. He did find the net with a good run inside and low shot that deflected into the bottom right corner to register his first goal for the north London club. Gave Leeds' defenders nightmares throughout. 9

Mathys Tel

Back in the team and grabbed his first goal of the season with a deflected strike midway through the first half. Worked really hard and sent a looping header against the crossbar in added time at the end of the first half. Played a good ball into Xavi's run early in the second half. Took a few knocks and eventually came off with 15 minutes to go. 8

Wilson Odobert

Some bright moments in the first half, getting into some good positions and played a great ball to release Udogie for a break Kudus should have scored from. Supplied a cross for Tel that his compatriot headed against the woodwork. Played another terrific ball into Xavi's path in the second half. One of his best games of the season as he did plenty of tracking back as well. 7

Subs

Richarlison

Had a shot deflected wide but otherwise didn't do as well as Tel. 5

Pape Matar Sarr

An industrious cameo to help Spurs keep the three points. 6

Kevin Danso

Came on to form a back three in the final minutes. N/A

Brennan Johnson

Jamie Redknapp, the former Tottenham midfielder, has issued a public apology to Lord Alan Sugar during Bournemouth's 3-1 triumph over Fulham, live on Sky Sports.

This follows comments made by Redknapp in the aftermath of Daniel Levy's departure from Spurs last month, where he suggested that Lord Sugar had left the club 'in a complete mess'. Redknapp maintained that Levy deserved recognition for the 'really good way' he left the north London club.

As expected, Lord Sugar was not pleased with these remarks and dramatically threatened to take legal action against the ex-footballer. "He talks a load of rubbish," The Apprentice star posted on X.

"He said when Daniel Levy took over Spurs, Alan Sugar left the club in a right mess. He and SKY will be hearing from my lawyers Monday."

Upon his return to the broadcaster following his controversial comments, Redknapp claimed it was time to 'set the record straight'. "I mentioned that Lord Sugar had the left the club in a mess," Redknapp clarified during the Friday Night Football coverage.

"I just want to make clear that he stabilised the club and invested heavily during his time as chairman. When he took over in 1991, Spurs were close to bankruptcy and by the time he stepped away the financial position had been turned around.

"He also put significant money into the team and facilities. I apologise to Lord Sugar and his family for any misunderstanding and for any distress caused, and am happy to set the record straight."

Following the broadcast of the apology on Sky, the 78-year-old responded via social media. "On September 13 Jamie Redknapp stated on Sky Sports that I left Tottenham 'in a mess' when I sold the club to Daniel Levy," he posted on X.

"Tonight, during Sky's Bournemouth v Fulham coverage, Redknapp has made a full apology and has retracted this false allegation. Also, by way of a further apology, a donation of £10,000 has been made to Great Ormond Street Hospital."

Lord Sugar assumed control of Tottenham in 1991. In 1999, former Arsenal boss George Graham secured the sole silverware of his tenure as they claimed the Worthington Cup (Carabao Cup) following victory over Leicester City in the final.

The entrepreneur would subsequently sell to the ENIC Group who remain Spurs' owners today. Tottenham are presently caught up in takeover speculation with American DJ Brooklyn Earick leading a consortium seeking to acquire the club, though the ENIC Group are currently dismissing suggestions they have any plans to sell.

Thomas Frank has made six changes to his Tottenham starting line-up to face Leeds in Saturday's early Premier League game at Elland Road.

Spurs are back in action after a last-gasp point at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The north London outfit remain unbeaten since the last international break but have their past seven consecutive matches before international breaks in the Premier League.

Frank and his mean will be hoping to end that streak and the Tottenham boss does have captain Cristian Romero back in action after his injury in the draw with Wolves last Saturday and the Dane has brought Xavi Simons, Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus back into the starting line-up after coming off the bench in Bodo.

Richarlison has been given a rest after plenty of recent football and Mathys Tel is his replacement up top for the trip to what will be a noisy Elland Road

Here's the team Frank has selected to face Leeds in the lunchtime kick-off.

Ange Postecoglou is battling to keep his job at Nottingham Forest after a catastrophic start to life at The City Ground. The former Tottenham Hotspur boss replaced Nuno Espirito Santo as the Reds' new manager last month, but he's failed to win any of his first six games across all competitions.

Forest suffered a 3-2 home defeat to FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night, with supporters chanting, 'you're getting sacked in the morning', following the Danish outfit's third strike. Resounding jeers echoed around the stadium at the final whistle, with the supporters' response setting off warning signals amongst the hierarchy.

According to The Telegraph, Postecoglou's future at the club is under threat, less than four weeks after his appointment, with Evangelos Marinakis increasingly concerned about results and performances. While Sunday afternoon's clash against Newcastle United presents a challenging test, it's said that another disappointing display and defeat could result in the 60-year-old's dismissal.

Marinakis has the power to make the final decision. That said, he'll likely consult chief football officer Ross Wilson and former Arsenal sporting director Edu Gaspar, who joined Forest as global head of football earlier this year before his disagreement with Espirito Santo.

Despite the speculation surrounding Postecoglou's position, the Mirror claim Forest remain committed to their upcoming fixture against Newcastle. The report claims they're determined to back the former Spurs boss at this time.

Postecoglou has managed two draws whilst suffering four defeats since taking charge at Forest on September 9. His tenure began with a 3-0 defeat at Arsenal, and it was closely followed by another setback against Swansea City in the Carabao Cup.

Two encouraging performances and outcomes followed as Forest travelled to Burnley and secured a 1-1 stalemate before heading to Seville and earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Real Betis. It looked as though Postecoglou and Forest had reached a turning point, but consecutive defeats at home to Sunderland and Midtjylland have ramped up the pressure.

Speaking to reporters after Forest's first European home defeat in 29 years, Postecoglou said: "Really disappointing. Just really, really poor goals we conceded in the first half that again allow the opposition to get comfortable in the game and it's been the story of our last few games.

"Key moments let ourselves down. We knew the threat they provided. It wasn't anything organisationally, it's just in those moments we haven't shared the same desire and determination as the opposition."

In an exclusive interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet, Daniel Levy explained why Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham. The former Spurs chairman claimed that the decision to let the the former Celtic boss go was data-driven.

“Ultimately, the decision sits with me, but it's always a collective decision," said the Tottenham chairman. "We have a board of directors, but under the board, we have a group of technical staff, and they advise.

"We had to explain the decision to part ways with Ange. Ange just won us a trophy – a European trophy – highly significant and he's always going to be in our history."

Good afternoon and welcome to football.london for live coverage of Tottenham's Premier League clash against Leeds United this afternoon.

Spurs come into Saturday's lunch-time kick-off off the back of a trip to Norway and a scrambled and barely deserved draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night. However, Tottenham are unbeaten since the last international break and Thomas Frank has told his players to bring an end to the bizarre pre-international break curse that has affected the north London club in recent seasons with defeats in their past seven consecutive matches before the players have headed off to represent their countries.

On the plus side, the Spurs boss has skipper Cristian Romero back and available after his contact injury in the draw with Wolves last weekend and is likely to make more changes to his line-up due to the packed fixture schedule after making five changes in midweek for the European match.

Kick-off at Elland Road is scheduled for 12:30pm - UK time - and you can follow our live coverage throughout the morning and afternoon with our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold in Leeds.

Thomas Frank continues to shuffle his pack as Tottenham's matches keep coming at pace with Saturday's Premier League game at Leeds United.

Spurs enter the Saturday lunch-time kick-off after returning from Norway and a fortunate scrambled draw at Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Tottenham remain unbeaten since the last international break but Frank is well aware of the pre-international break curse that has affected the north London club in recent years with defeats in their past seven matches in a row before the players have gone off to represent their countries.

The Tottenham boss has captain Cristian Romero back in action after his contact injury in the draw with Wolves last weekend and Xavi Simons, Destiny Udogie, Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus are all likely to come back into the starting line-up after coming off the bench in Bodo.

Frank will also have to make a decision on Richarlison because the Brazilian has had to play a lot of football despite his previous injury issues over recent seasons. Earlier this year Spurs had injury issues after playing on the artificial turf at Tamworth in the FA Cup and it could be that now is the time to give Richarlison a rest and not risk injuring him. That would mean Mathys Tel would come in up top for the trip to what will be a noisy Elland Road this weekend.

Here's the team that we reckon Frank could select to face Leeds:

Archie Gray can be as good as Premier League superstars Rodri and Declan Rice, reckons his Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.

The 19-year-old will return to Leeds United on Saturday afternoon 15 months on from this £40million move to north London. Gray has already made 51 appearances for Spurs, just one less than his tally at Leeds, with his versatility vital as he has turned out as a centre-back, in both full-back slots and in his more natural midfield role.

Now he has a head coach in Frank who tried to sign him at Brentford last summer, only for Spurs and former boss Ange Postecoglou to convince Gray to join them instead at the last moment.

"Let's put it this way, yes we spoke with him, but he ended up at Tottenham and maybe that was good because I still have the chance to work with him!" admitted Frank. "It’s one of those things. No matter where you are and what club you’re in, sometimes you go for targets and you can’t make it for whatever reason.

"What I am happy with is what I see from Archie here and I believe he’s got a big future ahead."

Gray helped Spurs grab a point at Bodo/Glimt on his Champions League debut on Tuesday night and Frank sees the youngster's future firmly as a midfielder and believes he has the potential to reach the level of Manchester City and Arsenal stars Rodri and Rice.

"I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position and these days midfielders need to be more complete. You need to be a little bit of a six, a little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice," said the Spurs boss.

"They can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie, and they are big names to compare him to, but I see he has got the same potential."

Gray comes from top footballing pedigree with his dad Andy having played 51 times in the Premier League for Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, while his grandfather is Frank Gray, who won the First Division title with Leeds and the European Cup with Forest. Archie is also the great nephew of Leeds legend Eddie Gray and on top of that his 16-year-old brother has already made his debut in the Championship last season for United.

"I definitely don’t treat them any different, I just see them as an individual that I try to help in the best possible way," Frank said of players like Gray coming from top footballing stock.

"You can say that sometimes there is something they maybe have got a little bit more in with the blood, which I think Archie has got, he seems to understand that he needs to work hard. The foundation, if you want to achieve anything, you need to do that. I think his understanding of the game is good as well. So those two bits and the discipline, I think are key areas if you want to achieve anything. So maybe that is from the blood of the family."

Gray will be looking to make the team against his boyhood club at Elland Road and prevent the extension of Tottenham's international break curse. The north London side have lost their past seven matches before each break, leaving their fans with two weeks of misery before the Premier League returns.

Frank lost his first attempt at breaking that run with a miserable performance at home against Bournemouth in August.

"We have a fantastic stat on that and we performed absolutely top in that game!" joked the sarcastic Dane .

"I really, really do hope we win so we don't need to speak too much about it in the future. It’s like a weird thing last year in Brentford where we couldn't win away for the first six or seven months, more than half the season.

"Then suddenly we were the best away team for the nine games in a row after. So with these stats, it’s up to us to be extremely focused, aware of the gameplan, show a fantastic mentality and do what we can to win."

He added: "Put it this way, I’ve mentioned it to the players. I actually said that you guys (the media) will most likely ask me so please make sure we win!"

One player who is back in training but not available yet for the game at Elland Road is deadline day loan signing Randal Kolo Muani and Frank explained the Frenchman's troublesome recent injury.

"It’s just a dead leg that was bleeding too much. Very simple. That’s sorted. Now we need to get him up to pace. No muscle, nothing, just a contact. Unfortunately. Then bleeding," he explained.

With both the PSG man out and Dominic Solanke requiring a minor procedure on his ankle, Richarlison has been left to battle away up top on his own with only 20-year-old Mathys Tel as a potential replacement. With the Brazilian's injury history, Frank was asked whether he's had to risk the striker more than he would have liked.

"No. I would say the medical and performance department have done a top job in terms of building him. I think it's quite remarkable that he's fit with his history," he said. "I think we took some good decisions. For example the first friendly we played, he was just too short so he didn't play the 45 minutes.

"There's been training sessions where we've probably [thought], 'hmm, not today'. We came back from the last international break, didn't start him. So there's been bits of those. Right now we haven't been forced into games where we had to play him if that makes sense. He's built an extra layer which I think is good."

So has all the game time meant that Frank has had to accept that Richarlison might run and press slightly less in order to counter the number of minutes he's racking up?

"Oof, that's difficult for me. That's a default in me, I get so annoyed if they're not running. They need to do something unbelievable, remarkable if they're allowed not to run. So the short answer is no!" he said.

"So far I've been happy with his attitude and his work-rate and also quite a bit of his performances, but there's still things that could be improved of course."

Richarlison's team-mate Rodrigo Bentancur committed his future to Spurs this week with a new long-term contract and Frank admitted he played his role in the club's work to ensure the Uruguayan did not run down the final seven months of his contract.

"Of course we tried to convince him in terms of what the future is here. The perspective for the team and the perspective for him, how I saw him and what kind of role I would like him to play," said the Dane.

"Of course he’s a very important player who can be part of moving the team forward and I think his qualities will be able to shine here. We're at the start of the journey and the future looks bright and exciting. One thing I’m sure of is there will be lots of ups and downs but I think he’ll be very good for that."

Bentancur was one of the senior figures to miss out on being named in Frank's five-strong leadership group at Tottenham which was announced on Friday. Despite being set to miss most, if not all, of the season following an ACL injury, James Maddison has been named in the group alongside captain Cristian Romero, Ben Davies, Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven, and Frank explained why.

"He is a very positive person and lively is not the word, but he's an extrovert," said the Spurs head coach. "He's positive, smiling, interacting with everyone and that is a big plus, and he also gets around to everyone and is interested in leadership so it was quite natural."