Daily Express

Man Utd boost rubbished as expected Spurs blow ruled out

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Man Utd boost rubbished as expected Tottenham blow ruled out for Premier League clash - Daily Express
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Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker Teddy Sheringham has dismissed the idea that the Reds could benefit from a tense atmosphere at Spurs' home ground, following the London club's recent defeat to Chelsea. After a 1-0 loss to their city rivals, Spurs fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Thomas Frank and his team's performance.

However, Tottenham bounced back on Tuesday night with a convincing 4-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League. Despite this, Sheringham, speaking to Oddspedia, believes that any notion of the Reds capitalising on a potentially nervous atmosphere in north London is misguided.

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Instead, he anticipates a united front when United visit this weekend. "I was at the Spurs game last night and I was interested to see what the reaction of the supporters would be like after the Chelsea game," Sheringham said.

"They were up for it again and Tottenham ended up putting in a good display. It wasn't fantastic - they probably ended up playing better with 10 men than they did with 11 - but I don't think the United game is the type of game for Spurs fans to not appreciate what's going on.

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"Everyone loves it when Manchester United come to town and everyone raises their game, so I don't think it's this type of fixture that will be a problem for Thomas Frank. I think Tottenham will be up for it and so will their supporters - so it will be a fantastic game.

"It's the other games that Tottenham are expected to win when they're playing against the likes of Brentford at home where it starts to become a bit sticky." With loyalties split between both clubs, Sheringham is anticipating an entertaining, hard-fought encounter.

"I was going to say there's goals in it, but Manchester United's defence has tightened up a bit recently and Tottenham look solid at the back with Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero," he concluded. "I'll go for a 1-1 draw."

Both teams enter the clash level on 17 points and - should either emerge victorious - they would climb to second place in the Premier League table, albeit potentially for just a matter of hours.

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Tottenham star explains snubbing Thomas Frank handshake after Copenhagen win

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Tottenham star explains snubbing Thomas Frank handshake after Copenhagen win - Daily Express
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Micky van de Ven has insisted that his frustrated exit from the pitch alongside Djed Spence following the loss to Chelsea had nothing to do with Tottenham boss Thomas Frank. The 22-year-old Dutchman has been making headlines for all the right reasons after netting a stunning solo goal in the Champions League, which saw him dribble from his own penalty area before beating the Copenhagen keeper at the other end of the pitch on Tuesday night.

This spectacular goal came during a 4-0 victory for a 10-man Tottenham side, after Brennan Johnson was shown a red card, and followed a weekend where Van de Ven felt compelled to apologise to Frank due to an uncomfortable incident post Saturday's derby defeat to Chelsea. The Spurs head coach had witnessed Van de Ven and full-back Spence heading towards him and off the pitch, and requested the pair stay and acknowledge the disappointed home supporters. However, both players declined and proceeded straight past the Danish manager and into the tunnel, leaving him to awkwardly watch them leave.

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The next day, both men independently visited Frank's office at their Hotspur Way training ground to offer their apologies. After scoring his remarkable goal on Tuesday night, Van de Ven was eager to move past that frustrating incident and emphasised it had nothing to do with Frank.

"Of course it's the past so I don't want to make it bigger than it is. Djed and I walked [off], we were just frustrated after the game and everything got really exploded by the media, it was nothing big to be honest," said the centre-back. "Everyone thinks it was the gaffer, there was nothing to do with the gaffer.

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"We were just frustrated after the game because of a bad performance from myself as well. We want to play well and I didn't play well in my opinion, so I was just frustrated and I just wanted to go quickly inside. As I said it got exploded by the media out of nowhere."

Frank had joked after the central defender's incredible goal on Tuesday: "It seems like we had Lionel Messi turned into Micky van de Ven, roaring down from his own goal all the way to the other end and scored a fantastic goal. I think he's our top scorer in all competitions, so he can keep going. He can keep walking past me if he's angry after a game!".

Van de Ven confessed he and Spurs had disappointed the supporters on Saturday and that the crowd contributed to everyone recovering against Copenhagen.

"The fans were good tonight and I think also it helped that we played a good performance," he said. "Saturday was really frustrating. We played a derby at home against Chelsea and it's a massive game for us but also for the fans, we didn't play really well as a team, it was a bad performance from our side. We needed to bounce back in a positive way and I think we did that really well."

Van de Ven embarked on a similar box-to-box surge last season against Everton only to set up Son Heung-min for a late strike, but this time the route was clear for the defender to find the net himself.

"Today I got the ball in my own box, I saw the gap opening every time in front of me when I started dribbling. At one point I thought some players were around me and I came through and I saw the way was open to the goal so I was like 'ok I keep going now I need to finish this'," he said. "At that point I was saying 'I need to score this one'. Luckily it happened.

"The one against Everton with the assist there were some defenders in front of me. When I was past these defenders [this time] the route was all the way open. Then I was like 'now I need to go myself'."

Van de Ven, who featured as a striker during his youth career, now boasts six goals this campaign, having failed to find the back of the net in his debut season. So is he targeting 20 goals now as a forward would?

"No, six goals is a lot already to be honest!" said the Dutchman. "I don't know where it's going to end but hopefully I can score more goals this season."

Van de Ven had kind words for his fellow countryman Xavi Simons, who delivered his finest performance for Spurs since arriving in a £51million switch from RB Leipzig at the end of the summer transfer window. "He had a great performance. He really created some big opportunities from our side. It was a good game from his side and also in the last couple of games," praised the defender.

"Of course he's in a new country so everything is different. Everyone expects a lot from him straight away, he played good games but you guys (the media) are always on him in certain ways of course. But game by game you see he's making steps. He was brilliant tonight."

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Udogie 'threatened with gun by agent' as Tottenham release statement

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Tottenham star Destiny Udogie 'threatened with gun by agent' as club release statement - Daily Express
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Tottenham Hotspur have released a statement offering their support for defender Destiny Udogie after the Italian international was allegedly threatened with a gun. The Metropolitan police have launched an investigation into the incident which took place in September earlier this year.

Udogie was allegedly walking down a busy street in London with a friend when the incident is said to have occurred. Police were called at 11:14pm on September 6, with a full investigation now underway.

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An agent was arrested and detained last month on suspicion of brandishing the firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, as reported by The Sun.

The arrested agent, who does not work for Udogie but represents stars which include an England international, is also being investigated for allegedly blackmailing and making threats against the footballer’s friend.

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A Tottenham Hotspur spokesperson said: "We have been providing support for Destiny and his family since the incident and will continue to do so. Given this is a legal matter, we cannot comment any further."

The agent has not yet been charged with an offence, though police did a sweep of his Hertfordshire home two days after the incident.

He was later given bail on September 9 with the condition that he did not contact the player. The agent has been banned from visiting the player’s club training ground, while they were also prevented from travelling abroad.

However, they have been permitted a bail variation by a judge at magistrates’ court after the man requested his passport in order to leave the UK on pre-booked trips. Nevertheless, he is reportedly required to return it to police when he returns.

A source told The Sun: "This was a terrifying incident and one which has sent shockwaves through the business side of football.

"The player was understandably shaken up — to have threats made against you with a gun is shocking.

"He reported it right away. It was the right thing to do for his safety. He has been supported by his friends and club and they all hope it will not impact his performances.

"But there will be serious questions about why this happened, which the police are now trying to answer."

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Tottenham player ratings vs Copenhagen: 9/10 and four 8/10s incredible

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Tottenham player ratings vs Copenhagen: 9/10 and four 8/10s incredible in rout - Daily Express
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Tottenham secured a 4-0 victory over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, despite being reduced to 10 men. The North London team were keen to bounce back after their disappointing performance against Chelsea in Saturday's derby. Head coach Thomas Frank was without Lucas Bergvall due to concussion protocol, while Mohammed Kudus and Djed Spence missed Monday's training session at Hotspur Way.

Although Spence made it to the bench, Kudus was absent from the squad. Brennan Johnson broke the deadlock 19 minutes into the game. Xavi Simons delivered a flawless pass to the Welsh international, who then skilfully manoeuvred past the goalkeeper and netted a beautiful goal from outside the box.

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Randal Kolo Muani squandered a few significant opportunities late in the second half but redeemed himself in the 51st minute. He chased down a long ball from Pedro Porro and managed to intercept the goalkeeper's attempted clearance.

The Frenchman then expertly controlled the ball before setting up Wilson Odobert to score the second goal.

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However, the match seemed to take a negative turn when Johnson was sent off after the referee reviewed his tackle on Marcos Lopez, which had caught the Copenhagen player's heel.

Tottenham delivered a double blow to their opponents. First, Micky van de Ven sprinted from the edge of his own penalty area, continuing his run before slotting a shot past the goalkeeper inside the left-hand post.

Then, Spurs struck again as Odobert dashed up the pitch and passed the ball to Romero, who had kept pace with the Frenchman. The captain then fired it across to substitute Joao Palhinha to slide home via the keeper's hand.

There was still time for academy striker Dane Scarlett to win a penalty after some impressive play to get into the box before he was tripped. Richarlison sent the resulting penalty crashing off the crossbar and not quite over the line, as he had done with a header not long before.

Here are our Spurs player ratings from the Champions League victory...

Guglielmo Vicario

He didn't have much to do but handled crosses well and sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate Van de Ven's wonder goal. 7.

Pedro Porro

Active down the right and curled the long ball over the top that Kolo Muani did well with to set up Odobert's goal. 7.

Cristian Romero

Spurs just look so much better with their skipper at the back and he showed great energy to keep up with Odobert and set up Palhinha's goal. 8.

Micky van de Ven

What a goal!

The Dutchman's execution was reminiscent of Son Heung-min, as he collected the ball from Bentancur's challenge on the edge of the Spurs box and sprinted the length of the pitch before firing past the goalkeeper and inside his near post. 9.

Destiny Udogie

He brought balance to the left with his driving runs and occasionally moved inside to allow Odobert to go wide. His presence improved the team's forward momentum. 7.

Pape Matar Sarr

His energy was a significant boost for Spurs throughout the match, particularly when they were reduced to 10 men. 7.

Rodrigo Bentancur

From the get-go, he pressed and won the ball back for Van de Ven's goal. He's an essential part of the Spurs machine, and they need him to replicate this performance against United. 8.

Xavi Simons

He provided a fantastic assist with his curling pass into Johnson's path. He tried to make things happen and should have had a second first-half assist after setting up Kolo Muani in front of goal and another ball to the Frenchman just before half-time that was headed over.

After Johnson's red card, he was substituted for Palhinha and was understandably upset. 8.

Brennan Johnson

He opened the scoring with a good run beyond the keeper and an excellent finish from out wide and outside the box. He set up Sarr for a headed chance with a run and cross.

His red card was harsh, and he'll now miss three games after what had been a bright performance until that point. 7.

Randal Kolo Muani

Started off with a bang and could have netted twice before half-time following excellent work from Xavi, one shot wide and the other headed over. Showed great skill in setting up Odobert for Spurs' second goal and demonstrated plenty of quality throughout the match, despite those two misses. 7.

Wilson Odobert

Worked well with Xavi as they both shone down the left and through the centre. Earned his goal from Kolo Muani's pass.

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Chelsea star labelled 'best in the world' by Robert Sanchez after Tottenham win

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Chelsea star labelled 'best in the world' by Robert Sanchez after Tottenham win - Daily Express
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Robert Sanchez insists Chelsea boast the finest midfielder on the planet in "animal" Moises Caicedo. The dynamic Ecuadorian proved the driving force behind the Blues' derby victory over Tottenham, registering seven recoveries whilst also securing four interceptions alongside his decisive assist for Joao Pedro.

Goalkeeper Sanchez declared after Pedro's first-half strike secured Chelsea maximum points: "I don't really need to talk about him but he's an actual animal. He's the best player on the planet in his position. He's one of the best in the world, who is better than him in that position? He's a beast. Every 50-50, every challenge he wins and is so composed on the ball."

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Sanchez also observes that Caicedo remains the same modest, quietly-spoken individual he initially met in the canteen at Brighton whilst adapting to Premier League football.

He continued: "I haven't seen him change much. As a player and as a character, he's always been the same, hard work, effort, quiet but a very good guy.

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"Obviously, he's filled out with his body a bit more with age and with experience, he's just got better and better on the pitch. His confidence has also gone higher and higher. He's a boss at winning the midfield."

Only Arsenal have netted more Premier League goals than Tottenham from corners since the start of last season but Sanchez commanded his penalty area to neutralise Spurs' set-piece danger and secure a vital clean sheet. The towering Spaniard is gradually winning over the fans as well.

He added: "I enjoyed myself. When you play for one of the world's top teams, a massive club, there's always going to be pressure when the team or you don't perform.

"Obviously, being the last line of defence, you usually get the blame, even if it's not your fault but that's the life I chose, that's what I like and I enjoy it.

"I have the confidence of my teammates, the manager and the club to keep performing as well as I am. "My initial transition into Chelsea was challenging. I arrived in a rush, only had about three days of training with a new manager, a new team and it was a bit of a struggle.

"I adjusted, then suffered a severe knee injury around Christmas which sidelined me for the rest of the season. Then I returned, got stronger, then a new manager came in again and new signings, so I had to start from scratch. Now, I'm doing well."

Chelsea's commanding performance - coupled with the 4-3 Carabao Cup victory at Wolves - was the perfect answer to last weekend's surprising 2-1 home loss to Sunderland.

Sanchez insists Enzo Maresca is thrilled with how his Club World Cup champions have rebounded. The 27 year old goalkeeper said when asked about his manager's post-match dressing room comments: "He said that it was amazing, that we had an unbelievable reaction.

"He said if we play like this every game, it's pretty hard to lose a game. The 50-50s, challenges, set-pieces, helping everyone, creating chances.

"Against Sunderland we needed to do better and just learn from it. We've struggled this week mentally but at the same time, we've pushed hard to get those three points today."

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Premier League ace quits football at 26 and takes up surprising new career

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Premier League ace quits football at 26 and takes up surprising new career - Daily Express
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Alfie Whiteman, the former Tottenham goalkeeper, has called time on his playing career at just 27 years of age. The shot-stopper made the decision at the end of last season when he was merely 26. Whiteman, who was a member of the Europa League-winning squad, had been at Spurs since joining their youth setup before securing his maiden professional deal.

Throughout his time at Tottenham, he enjoyed two temporary moves - both to Swedish club Degerfors - but struggled to establish himself in the senior side and frequently found himself well down the hierarchy. His lack of first-team opportunities led him to pursue alternative interests, including drama lessons, media work, and photography.

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According to The Athletic, Whiteman had expected to continue his footballing journey following his release from Spurs at the end of last season.

Nevertheless, the keeper chose to retire on his own terms during the summer and is now forging a career in photography, admitting he felt unfulfilled as a professional footballer.

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He revealed: "I signed for Spurs at 10 years old. Then I left school at 16 and went straight into this full-time life of football.

"When I was around 17 or 18, living in digs, I just had this feeling inside of, 'Is this it?' Getting on the mini bus, going to training, doing the Sports Science BTEC and going home to play video games.

"I realised, 'Oh, I'm not happy here' from quite a young age. The stereotype of a footballer is generally quite true. It's the golf, washbag culture.

"I was that young footballer. I wanted the Gucci washbag and I drove the Mercedes. You all just become a reflection of each other.

"You're a product of your environment. It's the way football is in this country, it's so shut off from anything else. You go to training and then you go home, that's it."

Whiteman went on to say: "Football is a short career regardless, even if you do really well, and I knew that I didn't want to stay in it.

"It was about trying to gain experience and be proactive in learning about these things I was also interested in, but mainly because I was enjoying it, and was surrounded by the kinds of people that were doing what I enjoyed as a job.

"They were making things. It was really inspiring."

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Pedro Porro's actions after Tottenham's defeat at Newcastle speak volumes

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What Pedro Porro did at full-time of Tottenham's defeat at Newcastle speaks volumes - Daily Express
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On a night when Tottenham were in dire need of leadership against Newcastle, Pedro Porro demonstrated exactly why Thomas Frank entrusted him with the captain's armband. The Spaniard consistently defended Spurs' position with referee Chris Kavanagh following a series of contentious officiating decisions. Tottenham occasionally allowed their emotions to overwhelm them at St James' Park, but Porro guided his team-mates away from the officials.

At the final whistle, the dynamic right-back once again proved his understanding of what it means to be part of Tottenham. Approximately 5,000 fans undertook the strenuous 564-mile round trip and maintained high spirits throughout the evening despite the team's lack of attacking prowess. Some would have driven, others would have paid for train or coach travel, but one thing is certain: it's a massive effort to traverse the length of the country on a weeknight following back-to-back away games in Monaco and Everton.

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The least the Tottenham players could do was show their gratitude after the final whistle, but Randal Kolo Muani and Djed Spence prematurely headed for the tunnel.

Yes, it was a frustrating night, and perhaps they were on auto-pilot, but that will provide no excuse for the fans who spent their hard-earned money to support their team.

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Porro immediately spotted the duo heading towards the tunnel and yelled at them, gesturing for them to return to the group.

Given that St James' Park was far from silent, especially after a midweek victory, and with the stadium announcer also broadcasting over the loudspeaker, it gives an idea of how loudly Porro must have shouted.

Kolo Muani and Spence did eventually amble back and applaud the travelling fans alongside their teammates.

While it may seem like a minor gesture, it carries significant meaning for supporters. Expressing gratitude only takes a moment but can make a big difference, particularly following a loss.

Tottenham must ensure they keep their fanbase engaged, as despite their current success in the Premier League, Thomas Frank's team continues to show inconsistency across all competitions.

It's safe to say that Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Guglielmo Vicario would never allow anyone to leave the pitch without acknowledging the fans.

So, credit to Porro for stepping in to uphold dressing room standards on Tyneside.

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Tottenham star in tunnel meltdown as two-word Newcastle reaction speaks volumes

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Tottenham star in tunnel meltdown as two-word Newcastle reaction speaks volumes - Daily Express
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Newcastle United once again proved too strong for Tottenham at St James' Park to maintain their march towards Wembley. On an evening when Magpies icon Andy Cole slammed Spurs players as 'schoolboys' for losing focus during a crucial corner kick that led to Fabian Schar's opening goal, Xavi Simons chased the match officials at the interval and bellowed: "Wake up".

Cole had been left stunned that Tottenham switched off as Djed Spence stopped to tie his bootlace before failing to regain his position swiftly enough. However, defending champions Newcastle remained sharp and focused as they secured a well-deserved victory. Schar opened the scoring on 24 minutes with a powerful header to give the Magpies an early advantage.

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Following the breakthrough, Thomas Frank protested angrily to fourth official Dean Whitestone, suggesting that Djed Spence wasn't prepared for the corner to be taken as he was tying his bootlace in the corner.

Nevertheless, the goal was allowed to stand, and whilst Schar kept his focus perfectly on the ball, Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky failed to close down the effort as it found the bottom corner.

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The visitors were furious with the officials as the teams departed for the interval, with Xavi Simons screaming "wake up" at Whitestone whilst heading down the tunnel.

Newcastle doubled their lead after the break as Joe Willock's cross found Nick Woltemade, who coolly headed home at the Gallowgate End.

Frank was pleased with Tottenham's display in spite of their defeat, with the Dane describing it as a game of fine margins.

"I think it was a very even game," he said after the final whistle. "I think it was small margins that decided it. I think our performance was good.

"I think the way we played the game, especially how we built it from behind, phase one, especially phase two, I think we controlled the game much more.

"I think we had some short connections in the middle of the pitch. I think we found Lucas [Bergvall] and Xavi in good positions.

"So I think it was one of our better offensive performances for the season. You could say it was not like we created five hundred percent chances, but we created some really big chances."

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Tottenham injury crisis hits new heights as 10th Thomas Frank star suffers blow

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Tottenham injury crisis hits new heights as 10th Thomas Frank star suffers blow - Daily Express
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Archie Gray is set for a spell on the sidelines, becoming the latest casualty in a growing injury list for Tottenham boss Thomas Frank. The 19-year-old former Leeds midfielder was fancied to start in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup clash with Newcastle at St James' Park. However, it has emerged that the versatile youngster has sustained an injury in training and will be absent from the match.

While there has been no official confirmation regarding the severity of the issue, reports suggest that the highly-rated player could face around a month out after injuring his calf. This comes as a significant setback for Gray, who had the opportunity to start in his preferred midfield position on Wednesday night. He demonstrated his adaptability last season under Ange Postecoglou, playing in defence, and Frank has also capitalised on his versatility.

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Frank now finds himself down by 10 first-team players. Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Dominic Solanke are all currently sidelined for Spurs.

Despite the injury woes, Frank remains ambitious about Tottenham's prospects in the Carabao Cup this season, although he questioned why the semi-finals were still two-legged.

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Spurs, eager to add more silverware to their trophy cabinet following their Europa League triumph in May under Frank's predecessor Postecoglou, travel to holders Newcastle for the fourth round on Wednesday.

Frank has suggested a shake-up of domestic competitions due to an increasingly packed football calendar. He pointed out that Spurs have already played 15 matches this season, following a gruelling 60-match campaign in 2024-25.

"By the way, one thing I've been thinking about is that there should only be one semi-final," Frank proposed.

"I think two reasons. For the smaller clubs, if you want to beat a bigger club, it's much easier to play only one game, so we really want someone to break out and it's not the same boring same teams winning – of course except from Spurs!"

"Then we need to skip one semi-final for everyone else that plays so many games. It should only be one.

"If it's about money, then someone needs to fix it. If it's Premier League paying money to EFL (English Football League), because as far as I understand it, it's because of that. So someone has to fix it. It should be very, very easy."

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Newcastle lineups vs Tottenham: Elanga recalled as Gordon decision

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Newcastle lineups vs Tottenham: Elanga recalled as Gordon and Woltemade decisions made - Daily Express
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Newcastle are embarking on a crucial stage of their season, with three matches in just seven days that could significantly influence their campaign. Eddie Howe's squad will face Tottenham in Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie, as the Magpies aim to defend their title and secure a spot in the quarter-finals on home turf.

This is followed by a Premier League trip to struggling West Ham, a match Newcastle must strive to win if they hope to reignite their pursuit for a top-five position after a mixed start to their league campaign. Then it's back to St James' Park to take on Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League, presenting a massive opportunity to make significant progress towards securing at least a play-off stage spot.

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With injuries to contend with, Howe faces the challenge of how best to manage his team over the coming week, with rotation likely in key positions. The importance of the Carabao Cup to Newcastle, following last March's scenes at Wembley, is undeniable, and United won't surrender the trophy without a struggle.

Howe has options when it comes to making changes, but who should be in the starting line-up and who should be benched?

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Here's what Chronicle Live writers think.

Lee Ryder

In my opinion, this game holds more significance than the weekend trip to West Ham - despite Newcastle's less than convincing Premier League standing.

That's why I wouldn't make too many changes against Tottenham Hotspur and would keep rotation to a minimum. Despite their injury problems, Spurs demonstrated at Everton that they can still deliver a strong performance.

I also believe Thomas Frank will be looking at the Carabao Cup in the same way Eddie Howe has over the past three seasons. In short, this is their best opportunity to win a trophy this season, and the same could be said for Newcastle.

It might be tempting to shake things up and make numerous changes, as well as keeping some stars away from Howe's office door. However, I would approach this as if it were a Premier League or Champions League match in terms of team selection.

We can discuss the need for players to rest and take a breather all day, but over the years, I've rarely known professional players who are happy to be left out of the squad, even for the Carabao Cup. As Bruno has shown recently, those who want to win enough will dig deep.

Players like Kieran Trippier, Bruno, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon, and Dan Burn are all needed against Frank's team. The only unexpected selection I would make is giving Anthony Elanga a full 90 minutes to build his fitness and confidence.

My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade.

Sean McCormick

Eddie Howe is keen to make a serious impact in the Carabao Cup. His track record in the competition over three seasons at Newcastle includes reaching the finals, exiting in the quarter-finals on penalties, and emerging as winners.

However, with Newcastle also vying in the Premier League and Champions League, he recognises the necessity of rotating his squad. If he genuinely believes that competition for places within his team has intensified, he should not hesitate to alter his line-up, especially with two Premier League away games and a Champions League face-off against Athletic Bilbao looming.

Considering this, summer recruit Aaron Ramsdale could use some game time, given Nick Pope's outstanding performance this season. This seems like an opportune moment to switch goalkeepers.

Injuries to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall limit the options for defensive changes, but it would be logical for Emil Krafth and Fabian Schar to step in. It's uncertain who they will replace, but whichever two players are chosen from Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn to start, I suspect the other two might substitute them at some point during the match.

Sandro Tonali, who missed the last two matches due to illness, should start the game to underscore Howe's commitment to the competition. He should take Bruno Guimaraes' place, with Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey replacing Lewis Miley and Joelinton.

Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon have been the starting wingers in the last two matches, making it an opportune moment for Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes to step in.

Nick Woltemade could do with a rest up front, while Will Osula has earned his chance to lead the line following his impressive performance off the bench in the victory over Fulham.

My NUFC XI: Ramsdale; Krafth, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Barnes; Osula.

Stuart Jamieson

Eddie Howe faces a challenging task tonight as he considers the advantages and disadvantages of altering his team. Perhaps the simplest decision is to bring Sandro Tonali back into the starting XI after recovering from illness.

Tonali's presence is crucial, particularly if Howe decides to give Bruno Guimaraes a breather.

Kieran Trippier is due a rest, so I'm opting for Emil Krafth at right-back, and while Sven Botman is fine after his head injury, there's no need to risk him with Fabian Schar ready to fill in.

It's difficult to see how Dan Burn gets a break while Lewis Hall is still not fit to return, but I would make four changes further forward. Jacob Ramsey needs a start in midfield and this is the perfect opportunity, while the entire front line could rotate.

Will Osula and Anthony Elanga made a difference when they came on against Fulham, while Harvey Barnes' brace against Benfica means he's earned a start to give Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade a break.

My NUFC XI: Ramdale, Krafth, Schar, Thiaw, Burn, Tonali, Joelinton, Ramsey, Elanga, Barnes, Osula.

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