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What Thomas Frank has said as Destiny Udogie absent from Tottenham squad vs Aston Villa

Destiny Udogie is a surprise absentee from the Tottenham squad to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

Villa have travelled to face Spurs in North London as both sides look to continue their winning form in the Premier League after the international break.

Unai Emery’s side beat Burnley 2-1 last time out, while Tottenham secured a 2-1 win against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Thomas Frank will have been hopeful of naming an unchanged Tottenham side to face Aston Villa, but has been unable to do so.

Udogie is shockingly missing from the squad at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of the clash against the Villans.

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Destiny Udogie absent from Tottenham squad vs Aston Villa

Udogie has been praised at Tottenham this season, even if his fitness has continued to represent a concern in N17.

The ever-reliable Djed Spence has often replaced the Italy international as the Lilywhites look to push on without the ex-Udinese youngster.

The 22-year-old came in from the start last time out against Leeds and looked impressive as he helped Frank’s men to three points.

International break followed, but Spurs fans were grateful to see that Udogie hadn’t played a single minute across clashes with Estonia and Israel.

Unfortunately, it appears that this lack of game time wasn’t as positive as hoped, with the left-back still absent from the matchday squad to face Villa.

Fans were quick to notice his omission from the team sheet, raising questions about where the Italian is.

Thomas Frank confirms Udogie absence vs Aston Villa

In Spence, the Lilywhites don’t necessarily have to worry, as his defensive capabilities certainly cover for his counterpart perfectly.

The England international caught the eye under Thomas Tuchel over the break, but that doesn’t mean that Frank wouldn’t want Udogie involved.

Speaking ahead of the Villa clash, George Sessions reported on 19 October that the Dane revealed he suffered a “minor irritation” on international duty. Still, it is said to be “nothing major”.

Adding to this, Frank spoke to Sky Sports Main Event, adding: “He came back from international duty with a minor irritation in the knee, which is keeping him out of this game.”

Villa are in positive form, but Spence should feel confident up against the likes of Donyell Malen, Evann Guessand and John McGinn for the away side.

Ange Postecoglou finds himself back on the managerial scrapheap just four months on from departing Tottenham.

Tottenham sacked Postecoglou in June just weeks after Spurs defeated Manchester United to win the Europa League.

Triumph in continental competition was not enough to save the Australian after Tottenham endured a miserable Premier League campaign, which saw them finish 17th last season.

Postecoglou was afforded an opportunity by Nottingham Forest back in September but it proved an unmitigated disaster.

Nottingham Forest sacked Postecoglou after just 39 days following Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the City Ground, after a reign that lasted just eight games and yielded no victories.

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Jamie O’Hara knew Postecoglou writing was on the wall after what he saw

Noted Tottenham supporter Jamie O’Hara was discussing events at the City Ground with co-host Jason Cundy on their Saturday evening phone-in show on talkSPORT.

The pair said the writing was on the wall for Postecoglou as soon as Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis was seen leaving his seat in the directors’ box around the hour mark.

Postecoglou was sacked before even getting to do media duties after the game.

Cundy said: “The biggest surprise is that it happened literally before he got back in the dressing room.”

O’Hara replied: “Marinakis left mate, I think it was 60th minute he left his seat and didn’t come back you knew that was trouble there. Soon as Ange walked off the pitch mate, sacked. He’s gone. I feel for him a bit on a personal level.”

Former Spurs midfielder O’Hara went on to note a similar failure he saw from Forest that he had witnessed from Tottenham when playing under Postecoglou, with Forest having wasted a host of first-half chances.

“That’s just Ange, where he was at, you know? Do alright, but then just lose. It’s what I saw at Tottenham, do alright, should score, get beat, get beat, get beat. In the end…”

Ange Postecoglou fails to fix Tottenham failures at Nottingham Forest

Postecoglou ended Tottenham’s 17-year trophy drought, but it came as a surprise to no one when his two-year spell as manager was ended shortly after the end of the 2024-25 campaign.

He made a promising start to life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Spurs fell away in his first campaign before managing to secure a fifth-place finish.

Tottenham were badly damaged by injuries last term, there is no denying that, but a stubbornness to stick with his high-line system saw Spurs undone on the counter-attack time after time.

It was a familiar failing at Forest, though you do have to question the thinking behind moving from a pragmatic boss in former Spurs manager to Nuno Espirito Santo, to an attack-minded coach like Postecoglou.

Ultimately, though, you have to be able to adapt to win matches in the Premier League and, not for the first time, Postecoglou has simply failed to do that.

How to watch Tottenham vs Aston Villa: TV channel, live stream, kick-off time

Tottenham are set to host Aston Villa on Sunday as the Premier League returns to action after the international break.

Thomas Frank will be looking to pick up where Spurs left off, with the North London side enjoying a positive start to the season.

While Tottenham versus Aston Villa is expected to be a close game, many will be hoping for three points against a side that has struggled so far this season.

Now, Tottenham Hotspur News has explained how you can watch the match on Sunday from your own home.

Tottenham vs Aston Villa to be shown live on Sky Sports

Given Tottenham’s form at present, it is little surprise that their games are being selected for TV coverage.

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Their last match against Leeds at Elland Road was also on TV, with the game against Villa also receiving the same fate.

Fans in the UK will be able to watch the match on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off currently scheduled for 2pm.

Coverage of the clash is set to start at 1pm, and the game can also be streamed from the Sky Sports app.

For those without Sky, a day pass can be purchased from NOW TV. As of 12 September, these are priced at £14.99.

Tottenham looking to end their poor run at home

Despite the positives of this season, Spurs have continued to struggle at home.

Their only Premier League defeat of the campaign came against Bournemouth at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Frank’s side were lucky to get a draw against Wolves last time out.

According to BBC Sport on 16 October, Spurs have only won three of their last 17 matches at home, picking up just a measly 13 points.

While much of this came under Ange Postecoglou, it is a run that simply must end, with Tottenham having another great opportunity to do this on Sunday.

Thomas Frank has made a personal plea to Tottenham fans ahead of a crucial Premier League match against Aston Villa.

Spurs host Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday aiming to build on their fine start to life under Frank.

Tottenham’s 2-1 win at Leeds United prior to the international break was their fourth victory in seven Premier League outings this term, with just one defeat.

That solitary defeat for Spurs came at the hands of Bournemouth on home soil, where Tottenham do not exactly boast the finest of records.

Tottenham have disappointing home record

Indeed, Tottenham have won just three of their past 17 home games in the Premier League, losing 10 and drawing the other four.

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Since the start of that run in November 2024, no ever-present Premier League team has lost more home games or picked up fewer home points (13) in the competition.

This season alone, Tottenham have dropped five points from home league games with Bournemouth and bottom side Wolves, with their only win coming against Burnley on the opening weekend.

It goes without saying that is a rather abysmal record, and it is one former Brentford boss Frank rightly wants to rectify.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game, Frank called on supporters to get fully behind their side in order to work as one.

“We would like our home to be a fortress. That is the ultimate aim,” he said. “Can we make our home an unbelievably difficult place to come to?

“Then you know the job is half done in terms of what you like to try to achieve. And that is like an unbelievable cohesion between the team and the fans and that needs to go hand in hand.

“It cannot only be the team, it cannot only be the fans. It needs to be both and we need to bring energy to each other.“

As Frank says, the players need the fans, but the fans also need the players to perform. All too often the two do not go hand-in-hand.

Aston Villa’s post-international break record not good reading for Tottenham

Aston Villa will rock up in North London on a four-game winning run in all competitions, most recently beating Burnley 2-1.

Villa’s last four results:

That momentum has been halted by the two-week break, but Villa have a great record immediately following international windows.

Indeed, they have won eight of their past 10 Premier League games upon returning to action, which includes a 2-1 victory away at Tottenham in November 2023.

Another bad omen is Frank’s record against Villa boss Unai Emery, having never beaten the Spaniard in five attempts in the Premier League.

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that Opta’s supercomputer has predicted a draw between Spurs and Villa this weekend.

All supporters inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium can do is give their absolute all, then it is over to the players to do likewise.

Mathys Tel has had a tough time of things at Tottenham since his loan move from Bayern Munich was turned permanent in the summer.

The 20-year-old has struggled to find regular gametime in the early stages of the Premier League season, and he has been at the centre of plenty of discussion in N17.

Tel scored for Tottenham in their win over Leeds last time out, with that strike his first of the season, and also his first for his club since 13 April.

The Frenchman appears to be heading back on the right track in North London of late, but that has come after a major incident concerning him and Thomas Frank.

Ex-Tottenham scout moots reason behind Mathys Tel Champions League snub

Tel’s future at Tottenham was cast into doubt a few weeks ago, when it was confirmed that he had been left out of the squad for the Champions League.

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Frank opted against including the former Bayern Munich starlet, despite the fact that Spurs had laid out a fee of £30million to sign him earlier in the summer.

It was a decision that raised plenty of eyebrows and will have undoubtedly knocked the youngster’s confidence a little in the following weeks.

Ex-Spurs scout Bryan King – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Tel’s off-field behaviour is likely to have resulted in the snub from the boss.

“The only thing I can think of was whether it was an attitude problem or a discipline problem,” King said.

“Something wasn’t right from when Frank took over, and they came back in pre-season. Something didn’t impress Frank, whether it was his off-field behaviour or the way he trained or something along those lines.

“To pay £30m for a player and not put him in the Champions League squad, I would imagine it probably will have been something quite disturbing to be honest.

“He has to buckle down and prove to Frank that he is good enough to start. He was a bit fortunate with his goal against Leeds, as it did take a bit of a deflection, but it would be good to see him play 90 minutes.”

Mathys Tel and Thomas Frank have put issues behind them

Whatever the issue between Tel and Frank was at Tottenham in the early stages of the season, it appears that they have both put it behind them in the ensuing weeks.

The Dane’s decision will have served as a big blow to the starlet, but he has seemingly battled back in the correct way and should now have plenty of confidence after his goal last time out.

It is clear that he has a big future ahead of him, and he now appears ready to fulfil that at Spurs in the coming months.

Thomas Frank has enjoyed a brilliant start to life at Tottenham.

After Ange Postecoglou was sacked, Daniel Levy personally pushed for Frank from Brentford before confirming his exit from Hotspur Way.

Sitting third in the Premier League before the Saturday games and starting the Champions League with four points, the Dane has nearly made the perfect start in North London.

Despite that, Frank has still been warned that it may not end well at Tottenham.

Thomas Frank could be failure at Tottenham

Tim Sherwood knows exactly what is demanded at Spurs, and he has already delivered a warning after what Postecoglou managed in white.

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The Australian lifted the Europa League before being sacked, a first major trophy in 17 years at the time, with the expectation growing significantly after that.

Speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday on 18 October, Sherwood shared that he believes that is hanging over the head of Frank already at Spurs.

“I think they’re capable of doing it,” he said.

“If they fell out of the Champions League spots and they didn’t win a domestic trophy or anything in the Champions League, which is a big ask, he’ll be a failure.

“It’s harsh, the fact is it would be very, very harsh, but Ange Postecoglou got his hands on a trophy and gave them an open-top bus parade around Tottenham.”

How has Thomas Frank started at Spurs?

It would seem incredibly harsh to call Frank an instant failure after one season, should he not pick up any silverware – it isn’t as black and white as that.

Postecoglou may have lifted the Europa League, but playing the likes of Bodo/Glimt in the semi-finals certainly helped that, before Manchester United in the final.

Frank will want to consistently deliver Champions League football to Spurs again, and he is on track to do that, with big backing from the Lewis family.

It helps massively when signings like Mohammed Kudus shine, so if the likes of Xavi Simons also click, Frank and Spurs should be just fine.

Thomas Frank shares thoughts on Fabio Paratici return, excited by separate development

Tottenham have had lots of change in just a couple of months.

Daniel Levy’s exit has seen Joe Lewis’ family take more control over Tottenham, with fans delighted at the latest £100m cash injection at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In another change at the North London club, Fabio Paratici has returned to Tottenham as the joint sporting director of the club alongside Johan Lange.

Paratici has faced legal issues in the past, but in Thomas Frank‘s latest admission, it seems the Tottenham coach is happy that he’s back.

Thomas Frank hails ‘quality’ Fabio Paratici

Tottenham have started well in the Premier League under Frank and look to continue their good form against Aston Villa on Sunday.

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Frank will be looking to have the Lilywhites in a healthy position come January, when he will work with Paratici on transfers.

As reported by The Mirror, Frank has commented on Paratici’s return after he avoided an 18-month prison sentence for false accounting.

“I know Fabio as a good guy from the times I’ve met him. I think he’s got a lot of quality and I look forward to working with him,” he said.

Frank then spoke of his delight with the Lewis family’s cash investment: “I think it’s hugely positive that the Lewis family is clearly showing their interest in doing everything they can to improve the club and back the club as they want us to be as successful as possible.

“I think that’s a sign of it, that they are injecting cash into the club.”

Frank and Paratici line up Spurs transfer targets

Julian Brandt has been linked to Tottenham already, as the player could be the first of many identified by Paratici.

Frank has been delighted with summer signing Mohammed Kudus, and will be looking for more success in January with transfers.

Paratici may prove vital for Tottenham’s success come the end of the season, as the Lilywhites look set to compete for trophies this campaign.

Tottenham players have been returning to Hotspur Way this week after the latest round of international fixtures.

The Lilywhites have made a bright start in the Premier League, and they will be hoping to continue that on Sunday when they face Aston Villa.

Tottenham had several players go away to represent their countries once again, with the likes of Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro playing key roles for their respective nations.

Thomas Frank and Co. will be delighted to have the group back in and raring to go on their return to domestic action, but a recent decision regarding the internationals is likely to come under scrutiny.

Will Lankshear didn’t get called up for England U21s

Will Lankshear has made an excellent start away from Tottenham in his latest loan spell.

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The striker has joined up with Oxford United in the Championship, and already has three goals to his name from the opening nine league games.

His form earned him a call-up to Lee Carsley’s England U21 squad for the first international break back in September, but he was overlooked this time around.

Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham – speaking exclusively to Tottenham News – believes that Lankshear can count himself unfortunate to have missed out on selection.

“It’s strange, he got in the last squad,” Wenham said.

“Since then, he’s been starting every game for Oxford up front and scored a couple of goals. Oxford fans love him for his work rate and determination. I don’t understand why someone who is starting week in week out in the Championship, playing proper men’s football, isn’t being called up.

“I know the squad’s decent, but there aren’t actually that many strikers in the squad. So I was surprised he was left out, to be honest.”

Will Lankshear is showing signs of promise at Oxford

Tottenham didn’t get the desired effect from Lankshear’s last loan spell, as he failed to find the net across his 11 appearances for West Brom in the second half of last season.

However, this time around, the 20-year-old appears to be thriving for the U’s and is quickly becoming one of their key men.

Gary Rowett has opted to start the youngster in all nine of his side’s league games so far this season, and he is currently the top scorer for the second-tier strugglers.

A large part of youth development can hinge on selecting the right clubs for loan deals, and it appears that in this case, Spurs have hit the jackpot for Lankshear.

Son Heung-min will forever be remembered as a legend at Tottenham.

The forward had his fairytale ending as Tottenham lifted the Europa League trophy, with Son finally achieving his dream of silverware with the club.

Son left Tottenham to join MLS side Los Angeles FC, and so far has been on fire in America.

Since leaving Tottenham, Son has proved he can still score goals and has been successful in the number nine position.

With Tottenham struggling with striker issues at the moment, the latest update may mean Son could return to the Premier League very soon.

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Son Heung-min may return to Premier League on loan in January

According to The Sun, Son could be headed back to the Premier League as early as January.

Son reportedly has a clause in his contract which may allow him to play for another club – Tottenham included – during the MLS off-season.

The MLS off-season begins after the MLS Cup concludes, which is usually mid-December, and runs until mid-late January when pre-season starts back up.

The ball may be in Son’s court, but the Lilywhites legend may want to use his off-season to recharge.

Son’s Tottenham highlights include stunning solo effort, trophy glory & devastating brace

Of course, Son’s trophy-winning game with Tottenham is the best moment of his Spurs career and will never be topped, but he has had astonishing individual moments too.

His brace against Manchester City in 2019 came in the second leg of Tottenham’s Champions League Semi-final tie with Pep Guardiola’s men, which ultimately saw Son’s side lose on the night, but progress to the final of the competition with the help of his two goals.

Perhaps the greatest individual moment from Son was his remarkable solo effort against Burnley in Tottenham’s 5-0 thumping of the Clarets back in 2019.

Son was awarded the 2019-20 Puskas Award from his goal, which will go down in Premier League history.

With Son’s Tottenham return nearing, he could add more to his iconic collection under the management of Thomas Frank.

Tottenham have shown they can compete with the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool off the pitch.

The Lewis family have taken over from Daniel Levy, and they’ve promised to invest further at the North London outfit after some eye-catching deals in the summer.

Spurs have been in the headlines due to Brooklyn Earick’s takeover claims, but it looks like the current hierarchy in N17 have no intention of selling for now.

While the Lilywhites faithful have no love lost for ENIC, they have pulled off some impressive moves as of late.

Tottenham complete Austen Ball transfer

Spurs completed the signing of Austen Ball from Luton Town despite interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.

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John Wenham has revealed that the 15-year-old is “highly regarded” and is seen as a number 10, joining the youth setup in N17, which has produced the likes of Harry Kane and Ledley King.

The Lilywhite Rose owner has hailed the North London outfit for pulling off what is a “really good deal”, with some massive Premier League teams after Ball.

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, Wenham said: “Ball is a very highly regarded attacking midfielder from Luton Town who’s sort of a number 10. He’s one that allegedly has been watched by Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham, who have done a really good deal to get him over.”

Spurs have also recently signed Jacob Collins-Fay from Leyton Orient, and the 15-year-old’s addition demonstrates their willingness to invest in youth.

With two exciting talents in the North London outfit’s academy, it remains to be seen how they fare in the coming years.

Thomas Frank willing to give youth a chance at Spurs

Wilson Odobert’s influence has increased under Thomas Frank, with the 20-year-old starring in the 2-1 win over Leeds United on 4 October.

Lucas Bergvall has continued to play a key role for Tottenham this season, having established himself in the first team last season.

Archie Gray is another youngster who has played his part at the North London outfit, but the Englishman is competing with some quality players for regular minutes in N17.

Ball still has a long way to go in his career, but with the proper set-up and guidance, he could potentially be the next big thing at Spurs.