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Igor Tudor is in mourning after being informed of the death of his father Mario, moments after the Tottenham boss saw his side lose 3-0 to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

Spurs suffered a damaging defeat at the hands of their relegation rivals, with Forest leapfrogging them in the table and moving three points clear of trouble.

The result heightened Tottenham's relegation fears, with the club enduring their worst form in 91 years having now gone 13 matches without a league win.

Tudor missed media duties following the match due to an 'immediate family bereavement'.

'It's a personal family issue and obviously it's a difficult moment for him,' said assistant Bruno Saltor, who addressed the media in Tudor's absence.

Sportske Novosti, a leading daily newspaper in Tudor's native Croatia, have since reported the Tottenham boss had been informed his father Mario had passed away.

Saltor had also addressed Tudor's future at Tottenham post-match, suggesting he believes the 47-year-old will be given time to turn the team's form around.

'We feel the support of everyone at the club and we're just focusing on how we can help the players,' Saltor said.

'What gives me belief? The last two games, against Liverpool and Atletico Madrid and the first half today. We should've been at least 1-0 up.

'Right now, every small detail is going against us, it is about turning it around and that's what gives us confidence.'

With Tottenham having three weeks until their next match, owing to the international break and being knocked out of the FA Cup, there would be a window for the club's hierarchy to make another managerial change.

Tottenham had turned to Tudor after sacking Thomas Frank in February, with the hope the Croatian could make an instant impact to help lead the club away from the relegation battle.

Tudor, however, has seen his side pick up just one point in his five matches in charge - a 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

Tottenham have scored just four goals and conceded 13 across his Premier League matches in charge, suffering defeats to Arsenal, Fulham, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest.

The relegation threatened side are still yet to win a league match in 2026, with their last victory in the competition coming against Crystal Palace on December 28.

Sunday's defeat leaves Tottenham 17th in the table, just one point above West Ham.

In their final seven games, Spurs face trips to Sunderland, Wolves, Aston Villa and Chelsea, with their three home matches coming against Brighton, Leeds and Everton.

Thomas Frank danced around the word that is haunting ­Tottenham supporters and did his utmost to avoid saying it. Only once did he utter ‘relegation’ during a 30-minute press conference dominated by questions on the subject.

That moment came in response to a parallel drawn to Tuesday night's opponents Newcastle and their team featuring Michael Owen, Shay Given and Damien Duff, ­relegated in 2009 after being dubbed too good to go down.

Frank’s point was that if Spurs were ‘a little bit higher’ the questions would be about reaching the ‘top four’, but because they were ‘not as high’ the questions were about ‘relegation’ and either way, his answer would be the same, that he was only focused on the next game.

‘There’s no doubt we are ­desperate to win games,’ Frank said and reinforced it for effect. ‘Desperate.’ He is, at least, more comfortable with the d-word than the r-word.

‘When you haven’t won enough, you need to be desperate, because if you’re not desperate, you don’t understand the situation you’re in. In terms of you don’t win enough. You need to turn it and win enough football games. That’s what we want for the fans, that’s what we want for the team, for the club.’

The uncomfortable truth, ­however, is that Spurs are deep in a trench of relegation form.

They have beaten Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and enjoyed pockets of positivity, such as a stirring fightback for a draw against Manchester City, the last-gasp equaliser at Burnley and a promising half an hour before Cristian Romero hit self-destruct with a red card at Manchester United.

But over their last 38 games — the course of a full Premier League campaign — Spurs have a meagre return of 37 points.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are the only team with fewer points of those who have spent both the last two years in the top flight. Sunderland, who were promoted in May, have 36.

Although the problems ­pre-date Frank, who has taken 29 points from his 25 games in charge, they are now well ­established. The grim truth for Spurs fans is that they have lost 32 Premier League games since the beginning of last season and have managed just two home wins all season.

Spurs are on another miserable run: seven Premier League games without a win. At this rate, they are going to struggle to break 40 points, for many years the recognised survival target although rarely required recently.

Down below, however, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and West Ham have kicked into better form since the turn of the year. Crystal Palace have halted their freefall with a win at Brighton.

Spurs, who finished just one place clear of relegation but 13 points above Leicester in 18th last season, are currently six clear of West Ham with a far better goal difference.

They should not be sucked into peril and yet if Newcastle win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday night, West Ham could be level on points by the time Spurs host Arsenal on Sunday week.

Injuries, meanwhile, continue to complicate matters for Frank. Destiny Udogie is the latest on a casualty list of senior players already in double figures. Udogie damaged a hamstring at United on Saturday and will be out for more than a month.

Kevin Danso, who tore ligaments in a big toe in Frankfurt, will not be back for ‘weeks’ according to Frank.

Romero misses the next four games through suspension after his second red card of the season and there was a gloomy bulletin on Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out since April with a ­serious knee injury.

Kulusevski had initially targeted a return in December, but was still in pain and so started a course of injections last month in the hope it might clear him to return to his rehabilitation.

He was not selected for the Champions League squad, however, and when asked if he expected to have him back before the end of the season, Frank admitted he did not know.

‘Deki has another appointment at the end of this week where we’ll know more,’ said the Spurs boss. ‘But, of course, out of the Champions League squad, it’s a sign that it’s not tomorrow.’

Add further absentees in the shape of James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Richarlison and Ben Davies, and it is understandable why the ­fanbase is feeling jittery.

So the outlook is bleak for Spurs fans tormented by the horror of a Domesday scenario where relegation for the first time since 1977 is amplified by Arsenal potentially being crowned Premier League champions.

This train of thought invites pressure upon Frank because if he cannot halt the slide, the board, for all their determination to hold their nerve and stand by him, might feel they have no option but to fire him in the hope of jolting the team from the downward spiral and picking up the wins to avoid relegation.

Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, issued another reminder during an interview on the High Performance Podcast that he would love to return one day to Spurs. Pochettino is head coach of the United States and there is no prospect of him leaving before the World Cup this summer.

The timing of the interview is unfortunate for Frank because many Spurs fans still pine for the Pochettino era, when they were runners-up in the Premier League and the Champions League.

They sing his name by way of protest to make clear their dissatisfaction at the way things have been since he left in 2019. ‘I met Mauricio a few times, great guy, a great coach,’ said Frank, resisting the idea his ­predecessor might be making life awkward.

‘He’s a legend. I don’t think he won a trophy, but he was part of transforming the club, from where it was at that stage, to where it ended being in terms of being close to winning the Premier League title and getting into the Champions League final.

‘If you are close, then you are very close to winning it. Sometimes in football, it’s margins. Pochettino did a top job here and is a true legend, so if the fans sing his name, it’s well deserved.’

Madonna left jaws dropping after making an unlikely appearance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on both Saturday and Sunday.

The music legend, 67, attended the north London venue to support her 13-year-old twins Stella and Estere as they played in a Tottenham U14s academy match on Saturday before attending the Women's Super League the following day.

The star, who has branded herself 'a soccer mom', took to Instagram to share images of the victorious twins playing football in the gloomy London weather, and penned: 'I will pay G*D for some sunshine! Go Stella and Estere, Hotspurs win!!! 5-0'.

Following her daughters' victory, she appeared to have been bitten by the football bug as she attended the stadium the following day.

Flanked by her 29-year-old boyfriend Akeem Morris, the star shared a selfie to reveal nshe had travelled in her 'second Uber ever' to soak in Sunday afternoon's Women's Super League action between Spurs and Chelsea.

Following her daughters' triumphant match, Madonna was joined by Akeem and her daughters, who were clad in the team's merchandise, to watch the match.

Madonna is a mother of six children; with Stella and Estere joining her other adopted children David, 20, and Mercy, 20, while she is biological mother to Lourdes Leon, 29, with Carlos Leon, and Rocco Richie, 25, with Guy Richie.

Despite being an unlikely addition to the stands, Madonna has previously visited football games in London, most recently with Akeem at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea host Liverpool last October.

Jamaica-born Akeem, is a keen footballer though has never carved out a professional career in the game. He played for US sides including NY Renegades FC.

Madonna also regularly shares snaps of herself to social media at football pitches in the United States, where her twin daughters have largely been playing.

In November 2024, she shared a carousel of images which featured Stella and Estere, writing: 'Soccer Momming………….. Don’t give me an Iron and a Drink at the same time! @agsoccerclub.'

Madonna also previously uprooted her life to Lisbon back in 2017 to support her son David Banda while he carved out a career on the pitch.

David joined the Benfica academy aged 12, but struggled to make it professionally and now works as a music composer.

The Like A Virgin hitmaker, however, continued to support her son as he tried to make it in football, regularly posting videos online of her cheering him on from the side of the pitch.

It is believed Madonna first began attending football matches in the UK when she was married to film director Guy Ritchie, an avid Chelsea supporter.

She has previously hailed herself as a 'soccer mom' when cheering on her daughters during the trials and tribulations of youth football.

And now, Madonna took that title to the next level by supporting 13-year-old twins Stella and Estere as they played in a Tottenham U14s academy match on Saturday.

Sharing images of the twins playing football beneath the gloomy London skies, the Queen of Pop wrote on Instagram: 'I will pay G*D for some sunshine!'

'Go Stella and Estere, Hotspurs win!!! 5-0,' the 67-year-old added.

Madonna then travelled in her 'second Uber ever' to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday to soak in the afternoon's Women's Super League action between Spurs and Chelsea.

She was snapped in the stands in north London keeping a low profile with her sunglasses on, alongside her 29-year-old lover Akeem Morris and her daughters, who were wearing Spurs clothing.

Madonna has previously visited football games in London, most recently with Morris at Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea host Liverpool last October.

Morris, from Jamaica, is also a keen footballer though has never carved out a professional career in the game. He played for US sides including NY Renegades FC.

The 67-year-old also regularly shares snaps of herself to social media at football pitches in the United States, where her twin daughters have largely been playing.

In November 2024, she shared a carousel of images which featured Stella and Estere, writing: 'Soccer Momming………….. Don’t give me an Iron and a Drink at the same time! @agsoccerclub.'

Madonna also previously uprooted her life to Lisbon back in 2017 to support her son David Banda carve out a career in the game.

David joined the Benfica academy aged 12, but struggled to make it professionally and now works as a music composer.

The Like A Virgin hitmaker, however, continued to support her son as he tried to make it in football, regularly posting videos online of her cheering him on from the side of the pitch.

It is believed Madonna first began attending football matches in the UK when she was married to film director Guy Ritchie, an avid Chelsea supporter.

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Manchester United have won four games in a row for the first time in two years as Michael Carrick’s side swatted aside Tottenham to go within three points of second-placed Manchester City.

Against the 10 men of Tottenham, let down badly by captain Cristian Romero after his straight red card for a foul on Harry Maguire, United toiled, grinding out a 2-0 win in the rain.

Bryan Mbeumo finished off a superb set piece move to separate the sides as it was joy for Carrick and despair for Spurs boss Thomas Frank, who continues to be under mounting pressure.

Daily Mail Sport’s NATHAN SALT ran the rule over the two sides at Old Trafford...

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1)

Senne Lammens - 6

Got away with a sloppy mistake in the early stages when his clearance left his goal exposed to Joao Palhinha, but overall Lammens will enjoy days like these where he has little to do. Given he faced just one shot on target, this was about as comfortable as you can hope for.

Diogo Dalot - 7

A lack of natural wingers to contend with made this one of Diogo Dalot’s easier afternoons here at Old Trafford. But credit to him because he’s faced a lot of criticism during his United career and he always brushes it off. Delivered a sensational assist for Bruno Fernandes that killed the game. So easy to see why every manager that comes through the door here keeps turning to him.

Harry Maguire - 6.5

Comfortably shut down the threat of Dominic Solanke and again made his case for a new contract, something that is yet to be forthcoming with his expiry closing in. Even when he isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary, his leadership is difficult to quantify. A totemic figure.

Lisandro Martinez - 6

Got away with a couple of wayward clearances but his ability to play between the lines remains such a weapon for United when trying to build up from the back. The key for Martinez is simply staying fit after such a long spell out. Good yin and yang with Maguire alongside him.

Luke Shaw - 6

Neat and tidy without offering too much in terms of attacking output down the left side. Simply doesn’t have the burst or athleticism that allows him to do more than just shore up the defence down the left wing. Did his job.

Casemiro - 7

Stung the palms of Guglielmo Vicario with a piledriver from distance in the 10th minute and then found himself at the heartbeat of the game’s biggest flashpoint when Cristian Romero crunched in on his ankle. Keeping him fit is key so the fact he played on was as big a relief for supporters as Bryan Mbeumo’s goal.

Kobbie Mainoo - 8

His form continues to make a mockery of his non-selection under Ruben Amorim and this was another impressive outing as he continues his late bid to make England’s World Cup squad. His role in the set-piece opening goal was executed to perfection. A Rolls Royce performance, this, and therefore my MOTM.

Amad - 7

Lots of discussion around United is how to get Benjamin Sesko into the starting XI and perhaps whether Amad is the one to drop out in order to do so. Absolutely wild that anyone can watch the games and come to that assessment. Simply put he’s the best one versus one attacker in the entire squad. He had Destiny Udogie seeing stars. Booked.

Bruno Fernandes - 7.5

The best player in a team that looks like the top four juggernaut bosses believed it could be after surgery on its attack in the summer. Continues to make a mockery of suggestions United may be better off selling him in the summer. Doing so would be a sackable offence. Top class once again and got his goal to cap the day off.

Bryan Mbeumo - 7

Was operating off the left, rather than centrally, after getting so much joy in the reverse game at Spurs under Amorim. Had to get creative with Archie Gray nipping at his heels so he deserves credit for engineering space to score the opener from a corner. Continues to prove himself to be the best signing of the Ineos era.

Matheus Cunha - 6.5

His positional flexibility is a real strength for Carrick and his staff but he doesn’t offer the same type of threat out wide that Patrick Dorgu did prior to his injury. Still believe a lot of what he does well doesn’t show up on the stats sheet.

HEAD COACH: Michael Carrick - 9

Four wins from four is difficult to critique in any way, regardless of how the results arrived. Not since February 2024 have United - then under Erik ten Hag - had that kind of run. He’s found a winning formula and he’s sticking with it, doing his prospects of landing the job full time no harm at all.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-3-2-1)

Guglielmo Vicario - 7

Made a number of fine stops, including a point-blank stop of Casemiro’s header, to give Tottenham every chance of getting something out of this game. Finished with a flurry of highlight reel saves against Shaw and Dalot, too, not that it will prove much consolation.

Archie Gray - 6

Was tasked with man-marking Bryan Mbeumo and by and large he did a good job both on the floor and in the air, at least in the first half. Spurs need to look at themselves after another abject display but Gray shouldn’t be chief among the guilty parties.

Cristian Romero - 3

A complete and utter liability. Took to social media to moan about ownership not building a deep enough squad to then go and get himself sent-off for the sixth time in his Spurs career and the second of this campaign. Made it all about him for all the wrong reasons.

Micky van de Ven - 6.5

Far from blameless for the demise that has engulfed Spurs since he got to the club but we need to be honest with ourselves and just accept he’s too good a player to be playing in a team level on points with 16th place. Will have a long list of suitors in the summer and he needs to make sure he gets to one.

Destiny Udogie - 5.5

Deserved better from his team-mates when he got the better of Dalot and Amad to drill a low, hard cross into the six-yard box but overall he was second best down his flank right up until he was forced off through injury. Booked.

Conor Gallagher - 6

Interestingly he could have lined up in United red for this one had United taken up the chance to sign him when offered in January. Gallagher was busy enough, more so in the early stages when the sides were even in personnel, but he didn’t do enough to imprint himself on the game. Didn’t do a lot wrong but did little beyond that.

Pape Matar Sarr - 6.5

Impressed when 11 v 11 and showed his value in behind able to drive through midfield as he got the better of Casemiro and Mainoo. But his influence waned when Spurs had to alter the game and he became something of a non-factor as the game wore on.

Joao Palhinha - 5

Takes criticism quite personally given how he responded to such from Sky Sports earlier in the season but he doesn’t look anywhere near the same player that did so well at Fulham. Was booked for a rash challenge that looked far more out of control than the one that got Romero sent off.

Wilson Odobert - 4.5

Had a couple of bright moments as Tottenham got the wind in their sails when 11 v 11 but he was the unlucky man who was hooked as a result of Romero’s ridiculousness. Difficult to judge.

Xavi Simons - 5.5

Shows flashes but he can’t stitch them together over the course of a full game. Had Lammens full stretch with an effort from distance and his talent shouldn’t be in question. The fact he can’t seem to take over matches despite that level of talent is bewildering, even given his youthful age.

Dominic Solanke - 5

Failed to muster a single shot across 80 minutes on the pitch and that just about summed it up. Did a lot of running and was the most accurate passer that played more than 45 minutes… but you need and want more from a centre forward, particularly when under the cosh.

HEAD COACH: Thomas Frank - 5

There’s only going to be so much patience for him to turn this around but to be let down as he was by his captain means he was doing so here with one hand tied behind his back. Needs to start seriously considering if Romero is the right man to keep the armband for the remainder of this season.

Follow Daily Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Manchester United host Tottenham at Old Trafford in the Premier League, with Oliver Holt, Chris Wheeler and Nathan Salt reporting from the ground.

Cristian Romero will remain as Tottenham's captain despite his second social media swipe at the club's hierarchy inside a month.

'Leadership is many things,' said Spurs boss Thomas Frank, as he tried to make sense of an issue that has tarnished a brilliant fightback to take a point against Manchester City and four games unbeaten.

'I am 52-years-old,' he added. 'I think I'm pretty good at leadership. Can I get better every single day? Yes. Do I make mistakes? Maybe not every single day but probably weekly.

'Romero is 27-years-old. Is he still going to make mistakes going forward as a leader, does he do a lot of good things? Yes.'

Romero fired his latest social media grenade on Monday soon after the transfer window closed. In it, he wrote it was 'disgraceful' that Spurs had been left with only 11 available players.

Frank said the matter had been dealt with internally. Last month, Romero was not punished for a cryptic post later amended about those people at the club who, 'show up when things are going well, to tell a few lies'.

His discontent casts fresh doubt on his future, reviving rumours of interest from Atletico Madrid despite a new four-year contract signed in August which launched him into the club's top tier of earners.

'That's a question I have no idea about,' said Frank. 'Right now, he is the captain, he has a long-term contract, we signed a new contract with him.'

It has also intensified the spotlight on recruitment strategy at Spurs because Romero's sentiment is echoed by many fans.

Unlike Frank, who arrived last year, they have seen a succession of transfer windows open and close with an anticlimax and a wave of logical excuses. And for them, the Spurs captain has now validated their theories.

Romero is in his fifth season as a Spurs player. He arrived from Atalanta in the summer of 2021, initially on loan converted into a permanent deal a year on. He has experienced nine transfer windows and probably recognises a pattern.

Spurs make all the right noises about how they are going to be ambitious and have money to spend but frequently see players they like end up elsewhere to strengthen rivals. It might be because they are not offering as much money as others or because they predict they are less likely to compete for the major honours. Or both.

It happened last year with Eberechi Eze and Bryan Mbeumo last summer. It has been happening for a long time. Think of Willian, way back. And Virgil van Dijk when he left Southampton or Liverpool hijacking the deal Spurs had set up to sign Luis Diaz from Porto. There was Gabriel Jesus when he joined Arsenal from Manchester City, and it is still happening with Antoine Semenyo in last month.

Spurs can hijack Kevin Danso's proposed move to Wolverhampton Wanderers or muscle Brentford out of the way to sign Archie Gray but rarely win a transfer battle with the biggest clubs in England.

So, Romero is probably thinking he has heard it all before. Maybe also those teammates liking his posts. It's what many of the fans think, too, so they applaud Romero for speaking out and his cult status is reinforced.

On Wednesday, Spurs rolled an interview with sporting director Johan Lange out on their club channels. In it, Lange explained the difficulties of business in January and what a quiet transfer window it had been.

Only 33 signings had been made by Premier League clubs, he pointed out and put this down to limited availability in the market caused by the new format in European competition, fixture congestion and injuries leading more clubs to stockpile players.

Lange has been at the club since October 2023. In his time Spurs have spent £420million on 15 players across five transfer windows, plus four loans not yet or not made permanent.

None have made a definitive impact. Dominic Solanke, signed for £65m, is closer than most and might have done more had he not missed the first half of this season through injury.

Solanke is fit again and Spurs look stronger with him up front. Xavi Simons is starting to sparkle. Mohammed Kudus flickered at times before his injury. So much of it though is a question of promise and pleas for patience be that with Gray, Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert or Mathys Tel.

'I know the club is very ambitious and the owners are very ambitious and I've no doubt we will see that going forward,' said Frank, as he named-checked Simons and Kudus as 'two good signings' from last summer and Joao Palhinha as a 'good loan'.

'So, it's not as though we don't want to loan players to strengthen the squad,' he added. 'And if you compare us to other top six clubs, we think it was a big signing with Conor Gallagher.'

Still, there is no jaw-dropping signing of intent. No statement signing to compare with Arsenal's decisive swoop for Declan Rice made to signal a new era of aggression in the market. Or Liverpool's raid on Newcastle for Alexander Isak.

Action can speak louder than words. When Spurs wanted a wide forward, they did not have the clout to prise Jarrod Bowen out of West Ham and settled for Kudus.

Frank, much like Ange Postecoglou last season, has not been helped by injuries and bemoaned the problems of combining Europe and the Premier League, but Spurs have been in Europe for 18 of the last 20 years.

If they do not know by now what it takes to build a squad to compete on all fronts, perhaps they never will.

This is the direction in which Romero's words point us. Towards a case that many fans disenfranchised by ENIC's ownership have been making for a long time.

Frank's predecessors came up against this and now, despite the exit of chairman Daniel Levy in September and a new regime in control, there are players in the dressing room making the same point led by their seemingly untouchable captain.

Archie Gray accepts his mistake in a heartbeat. 'I've watched it back lots of times,' he says. 'I shouldn’t have taken a touch. I should’ve just played it first time.'

Four days have passed since Tottenham’s 3-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, and Gray is revisiting the first goal conceded, when his touch to control a short pass from goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario enabled Ibrahim Sangare to pounce and set up Callum Hudson-Odoi to score.

Some blamed Vicario but Spurs boss Thomas Frank made it clear Gray was at fault. There were no allowances for his tender years. 'Yeah, I agree with him,' nods Gray.

Vicario came under fire for the second goal, also scored by Hudson-Odoi. 'Vic’s fine,' Gray adds. 'Vic’s a grown man. We do this for a living. People criticise us all the time so we’re used to it. I don’t listen to those people. Their opinions don’t matter to me. It’s obviously my mistake and I’ll learn from that.'

Gray is 19, though mature beyond his years on the pitch and if anything has been more impressive than his footballing ability since his £40million move from Leeds in the summer of 2024 it is his Premier League temperament. He plays wherever he is asked to play, quietly commits to the task without fuss, takes responsibility for his actions and is refreshingly free from histrionics. He must be a coach’s dream.

No teenager has played more Premier League minutes than his 2,027 since the start of last season, and across Europe’s big five leagues, he is 10th in the minutes list which is topped by Lamine Yamal of Barcelona.

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Mistakes are inevitable for young footballers learning the trade in these intense arenas. It is an accelerated learning curve, but Gray rarely seems troubled by them, an unflappability he attributes to his upbringing in one of football’s most famous families.

Father Andy enjoyed a long career for a dozen different clubs including Leeds and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. Grandfather Frank, a versatile defender, represented those same two clubs in European Cup finals before its Champions League rebrand, lifting the trophy with Forest in 1980.

'I know my grandad was an unbelievable player,' says Archie. 'Not many win the Champions League and that’s my goal in football, to try and do what he’s done.'

Archie’s brother Harry has an exciting future, too, signing his first professional contract at Leeds upon turning 17 in October. And their great Uncle Eddie, a brilliant left winger, is a Leeds legend from the golden era under Don Revie.

'It’s a massive help,' says Gray, who often finds old memorabilia involving his family sent to the training ground with a message ‘to pass it on’.

The fixture list comes with added significance - be it a return to Elland Road or the City Ground where silhouettes of the trophies won through the years ring the stadium. Or the Parc des Princes where Frank and Eddie played for Leeds in a fiery European Cup final, controversially beaten by Bayern Munich, 50 years ago.

'I’d love to sit down and watch that match, I know it’s got some history behind it,' says Gray. 'They’ve been in the moments I’ve been in. The mistake I made on the weekend, they’ve been there and done that, they know what it’s like and they just help me through.

'I speak to my dad after every game and (after the Forest mistake) he just said, "There’s nothing you can do now apart from see what you could’ve done better". I’m young, I’ll learn from it and when I’m in that situation again, I’ll know what to do. I’m lucky to come from the family I do.'

Perspective comes easily to Gray, who is speaking to Daily Mail Sport at the children’s ward of the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, Essex. Spurs players have been out in the community all week handing out gifts. 'It’s amazing to come here and see the smiles on faces when they’re going through a little bit of a tough time, especially around Christmas,' he says.

On the pitch, having spent much of last season patching up an injury crisis in central defence, Gray has been restored to central midfield as Spurs boss Frank tinkers to find the right blend and formation.

'He wants me to play forward as much as possible, that’s the main thing,' says the England Under 21 international, whose performances since returning from a calf injury have been among the bright spots in a difficult spell for Frank’s team.

'We’ve got a certain structure, and I’ve got a role in the system. We have two pivots and sometimes I’ll have the licence to get into the box. The main message before games is to be positive. Play forward, run forward, be as positive as you can and that’s my natural game. I want to get on the ball and find passes. Running with the ball is probably my main strength.'

He studies the world’s best midfielders, determined to improve, and adds: 'Jude Bellingham is someone all English midfielders look up to because the things he’s been doing are unbelievable. Others like Pedri at Barcelona and the Paris Saint-Germain midfield.'

Spurs received a chastening close-up of the class in PSG’s midfield in November, beaten 5-3 by the European champions in Paris. Gray was instructed to mark Vitinha and made a good job of it, even though the Portugal midfielder scored two screamers and a penalty.

'They’re the best team in Europe,' says Gray. 'Vitinha is so calm in situations and people don’t realise how much he runs in the game. He tires you out little by little.'

These are the standards he aspires to with club and country but first, the task of improving their home form as champions Liverpool visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Despite only one win in seven Premier League games, Spurs will take courage from last season when the Europa League triumph in Bilbao washed away the preceding weeks of struggle, and proved success is best judged in May.

'There were so many difficult games,' says Gray. 'But we stuck to it in the Europa League. And we knew towards the end, when it was the quarters, the semis, we had a chance to make this season unforgettable for the fans and the club.

'It might have not been the best year in the Premier League and other cups but to win a trophy like that outweighs what happens in the bad performances. To give the fans a trophy is the most special thing and when you win a trophy as a team you will always be good friends because you share in that moment and have such a positive memory.

'For everyone here, winning trophies with Tottenham is our dream. Hopefully we can keep that going.'

Under the management of Ange Postecoglou last season, Tottenham were famed for their bold high-line.

Yet it appears Spurs have shifted their focus onto balding hairlines - or rather, how to stop them.

The club have struck a deal with Turkish clinic Elithair, making them the side's 'official hair treatment partner' in what has been touted as 'a mission to inspire self-confidence'.

Elithair, who are based in Istanbul but have facilities in Britain, Germany and Dubai, claim to be the largest hair transplant clinic in the world and have treated former footballers such as Ricardo Quaresma.

While the deal was not announced by any of the club's players - instead a 60-second advert of an acting Spurs fan - it is understood that many of their past and present stars have used hair transplant treatment in the past.

One current player believed to have had the procedure is James Maddison, while former midfielders Christian Eriksen and Andros Townsend have also appeared with fresh locks of hair in recent years.

Club legend Harry Kane has also been rumoured to have had a hair transplant.

Meanwhile Antonio Conte, who managed Spurs between 2021 and 2023, has long been famed for his thick black hair which, at the end of his playing career, was wisping away.

The unique partnership was announced by the club without any social media fanfare, but fans will quickly see Elithair's 'prominent' branding plastered across the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

'We are proud to partner with Elithair, a brand that has demonstrated undisputed global leadership in its field,' said the club's chief revenue officer Ryan Norys.

'As the world's largest hair transplant clinic, we could not have chosen a better partner than Elithair to engage our fanbase through a mission to inspire self-confidence and offer globally recognised clinical treatment practices.'

Dr. Abdulaziz Balwi, Co-Founder and Medical Director of Elithair, said: 'Partnering with an iconic Premier League club like Tottenham Hotspur is a monumental step for Elithair.

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'It demonstrates the trust and authority we have built through our world-class expertise and international facilities in Istanbul, the United Kingdom, Germany and Dubai.

'This collaboration allows us to bring the same level of commitment and excellence seen at a Premier League level to every patient in the UK.'

The deal's announcement is the first-of-its-kind for a football club, but the procedure has long existed among the most famous faces in the game.

Wayne Rooney famously confirmed that he had underwent a hair transplant on Twitter and has had numerous procedures.

Former Arsenal star Rob Holding is another case, with the defender now possessing a full head of hair despite balding in his 20s.

Tottenham star Dane Scarlett trained with the England squad on Monday morning ahead of their clash against Latvia.

Scarlett, 21, made headlines in November 2020 when he became the youngest ever player to feature for Spurs at the age of 16 years and 247 days against Ludogorets in the Europa League.

His career hasn't quite kicked on since, with the forward enjoying loan spells of mixed success at Portsmouth, Ipswich Town and Oxford United over recent seasons, although he did score his first Tottenham goal against Elfsborg in January.

And on Monday, Scarlett linked up with the Three Lions as they trained at Tottenham's base before flying to Latvia for a World Cup qualifier.

Scarlett was pictured next to England skipper and Spurs legend Harry Kane in one shot, while other photos from the session showed the 21-year-old embracing Thomas Tuchel and mingling with stars such as Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Scarlett, who has netted 12 career goals in 97 matches, is yet to feature for Thomas Frank's side this season after undergoing groin surgery in May, although he has been an unused substitute in five matches.

Scarlett's inclusion in the training session came after fellow striker Ollie Watkins was sent home from England's camp due to injury.

Watkins suffered a knock during the 3-0 win over Wales on Thursday when he collided with a post as he tried to get on the end of a cross from Elliot Anderson.

The striker limped off gingerly at half-time and was replaced by Marcus Rashford for the second period.

Scarlett is well-known to the English FA given his experience playing for the Three Lions throughout the age groups.

In total, he has won a combined 43 caps for the Under 15, Under 16, Under 19, Under 20 and Under 21 teams over the years, scoring 27 goals.

Scarlett is under contract at Spurs until 2027 and he has previously been tipped for big things by several figures at the club.

Back in 2021 after he made his Premier League debut, then Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho was one such backer.

'He did not touch the ball I do not think,' the Portuguese said at the time. 'But for me the feeling of the kid also coming on means a lot for the academy, means [a lot] for the kid because he is 16, and means [a lot] to me because I wanted to be the one to put him on in a Premier League match.

'Because I know that he will be somebody in a few years.'

Meanwhile, speaking after the Wales game, Tuchel had provided an update on Watkins.

'He's ok,' the German explained. 'It was a clear goal normally for him, but unfortunately, he saw the ball too late and couldn't score and crashed into the post.

'It was very, very painful, but as I understand it now, it's only painful, so no harm done.'

Elsewhere, Harry Kane is expected to be fit for tomorrow's clash against Latvia after missing the victory over Wales through injury.