Sports Mole

Seeking another seismic shock in the 2025-26 EFL Cup, League One promotion-chasers Doncaster Rovers tackle Premier League powerhouses Tottenham Hotspur in Wednesday's third-round tie.

Grant McCann's team upset Middlesbrough 4-0 in the first round before claiming a 2-0 victory over Accrington Stanley next up, but they have since lost back-to-back league games against Wigan Athletic and AFC Wimbledon.

Meanwhile, Spurs bypassed the first two rounds as a result of their European participation, and Thomas Frank's men recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday's top-flight contest.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between the two sides.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings:Â 9

Tottenham Hotspur wins:Â 6

Draws:Â 2

Doncaster Rovers wins:Â 1

Given the long-running disparity between Tottenham Hotspur and Doncaster Rovers quality-wise, it should come as no surprise to learn that the two teams have only crossed paths on nine occasions in all competitions down the years.

The Lilywhites have triumphed in six of those meetings, while playing out two draws and suffering one defeat, which came in their inaugural battle in the 1935-36 Second Division campaign.

Doncaster edged out Spurs 2-1 that day, but the Lilywhites have since navigated each of their last eight head-to-heads with Doncaster without suffering defeat, while also winning every home game to boot.

Doncaster did hold Tottenham to 1-1 draws at home in April 1937 and February 1948 - again in Division Two - and the two clubs have not contested a league match since the latter date 77 years ago.

Therefore, Rovers and Spurs have only done battle in cup competitions over the past seven decades, firstly an FA Cup fifth-round showdown in the 1955-56 season, which Tottenham won 2-0 before losing to Manchester City in the semi-finals.

The merciless Lilywhites then put seven past Doncaster in the fifth round of the 1975-76 EFL Cup, before also teaching their lower-league visitors a goalscoring lesson in the second phase of the 2009-10 tournament.

With Harry Redknapp at the helm, Spurs trounced Doncaster 5-1 at the Keepmoat Stadium, where Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O'Hara, Peter Crouch, David Bentley and Roman Pavlyuchenko all found the net.

Last nine meetings

Aug 26, 2009:Â Doncaster 1-5 Tottenham (EFL Cup)

Dec 03, 1975:Â Tottenham 7-2 Doncaster (EFL Cup)

Feb 18, 1956:Â Doncaster 0-2 Tottenham (FA Cup)

Feb 14, 1948:Â Doncaster 1-1 Tottenham (Division Two)

Sep 17, 1947:Â Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster (Division Two)

Apr 17, 1937:Â Doncaster 1-1 Tottenham (Division Two)

Dec 12, 1936:Â Tottenham 2-0 Doncaster (Division Two)

Apr 25, 1936:Â Tottenham 3-1 Doncaster (Division Two)

Dec 21, 1935:Â Doncaster 2-1 Tottenham (Division Two)

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Ten changes from Thomas? Predicted Spurs XI vs. Doncaster

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Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank will be expected to ring the changes for Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round clash with Doncaster Rovers in North London.

The Lilywhites are still missing James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (knock) and Dominic Solanke (ankle), but Frank is hopeful of having Randal Kolo Muani (dead leg) and Ben Davies (knee) back in contention for this one.

Neither man was involved in the 2-2 Premier League draw with Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend, but if Davies is cleared to play, the Welshman will surely be considered for a start in the Lilywhites' backline.

Davies and Kevin Danso could form the protective barrier in front of Antonin Kinsky, while Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie are the most likely candidates to start in the full-back areas.

The versatile Archie Gray is a viable option at right-back too, but Frank could instead deploy the teenager as his midfield anchor, with Pape Sarr and Xavi Simons either side of him in the triumvirate.

The Spurs boss is not short of options for change up front either, and it would not be a total shock to see Dane Scarlett earn a start, but the 21-year-old may only play 45 minutes of the match given his lack of football over the past year.

Scarlett and Kolo Muani could both enjoy one half each in the striker's spot, while Brennan Johnson and Mathys Tel should be given a chance to strut their stuff in the wide positions.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Gray, Simons; Johnson, Scarlett, Tel

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Premier League meets League One in Wednesday's EFL Cup third-round showdown, as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Doncaster Rovers to their North London home.

The Lilywhites bypassed the first two rounds thanks to their European participation, while their third-tier visitors have already taken down Middlesbrough and Accrington Stanley away from home.

Match preview

Starved of domestic success since a Jonathan Woodgate-inspired triumph in this competition in 2008, Tottenham are long overdue another slice of English football stardom, even if they did conquer the continent in the secondary term last season.

The reigning Europa League champions have contested three EFL Cup finals since last lifting the trophy aloft 17 years ago, but they settled for runners-up medals in 2009, 2015 and 2021 and were agonisingly bested by Liverpool in the semi-finals of the 2024-25 edition.

Third-round exits are also not uncommon for Tottenham, who lost at this stage as recently as the 2022-23 season to Nottingham Forest, while lower-league Colchester United stunned Spurs on penalties in the third round of the 2019-20 EFL Cup.

However, it is difficult to envisage a seismic shock taking place on Wednesday evening, especially with Spurs able to reflect on far more positives than negatives during the earliest days of Thomas Frank's tenure, including four wins from their last six in all competitions.

The hosts had yet to show a resilient edge before the weekend's Premier League trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, but they harnessed their fightback powers to draw 2-2 after falling 2-0 down at the Amex Stadium, whereas their visitors were on the other side of the comeback coin.

A goal to the good against AFC Wimbledon in their most recent League One encounter, Doncaster Rovers succumbed to second-half strikes from Ryan Johnson and Myles Hippolyte in a 2-1 loss to Johnnie Jackson's men, as their painful plight continued.

Between August 23 and September 6, Grant McCann had masterminded five straight victories across all competitions, including a 2-0 beating of Accrington Stanley in the second round of the EFL Cup after an astounding 4-0 battering of Middlesbrough first up.

However, Wednesday's visitors have now lost back-to-back fixtures to Wigan Athletic and most recently Wimbledon, bumping them out of the playoff places in the League One table at this embryonic stage, although they only trail Barnsley and Huddersfield Town on goal difference.

Defensive concerns have been building for the past few weeks for Doncaster, who have shipped seven goals in their past four games after keeping three successive clean sheets in their three prior fixtures, hardly reassuring reading before a visit to Premier League territory.

Rovers have also lost each of their last four EFL Cup third-round matches since progressing to the quarter-finals of the 2005-06 edition, and their run in the 2009-10 tournament was ended by Tottenham, who pummelled their upcoming foes 5-1 in that second-round clash.

Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

Doncaster Rovers EFL Cup form:

Doncaster Rovers form (all competitions):

Team News

It is as you were in terms of Tottenham's injury situation, as James Maddison (ACL), Radu Dragusin (ACL), Dejan Kulusevski (knee), Kota Takai (foot), Yves Bissouma (knock) and Dominic Solanke (ankle) are still sidelined, but Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies should be back from a dead leg and knee twist respectively.

Frank still has plentiful options for change and will no doubt shuffle the pack considerably for Wednesday's game, where Antonin Kinsky, Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and maybe even Dane Scarlett should be among the starters.

Tottenham either loaned out or sold a plethora of their promising academy products this summer, but the likes of Callum Olusesi and 16-year-old Luca Williams-Barnett could push for involvement; the latter scored a hat-trick for the Under-21s in a 6-3 win over Leicester City in the Premier League 2 on Friday.

Among the surfeit of youngsters Tottenham sent elsewhere was Damola Ajayi, the 19-year-old winger who is currently representing Doncaster, but he will be ineligible to face his parent club on Wednesday night.

Ajayi was only a substitute in the weekend's loss to Wimbledon anyway; instead, Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson should line up in support of 39-year-old marksman Billy Sharp.

On the injury front, midfielder Harry Clifton recently sustained a hamstring tear in Rovers' loss to Wigan, and McCann expects the 27-year-old to miss around six weeks of action.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Gray, Simons; Johnson, Scarlett, Tel

Doncaster Rovers possible starting lineup:

Lawlor; Sterry, McGrath, Pearson, Maxwell; Bailey, Close; Molyneux, Crew, Gibson; Sharp

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 Doncaster Rovers

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Owing to lack of academy products knocking on the first-team door, Frank will have no choice but to send out a largely experienced XI, one that should get the job done with minimal fuss.

Doncaster have won their first two EFL Cup games of the season by an aggregate score of 6-0, but McCann's men are now looking more vulnerable defensively and will surely bow out in North London.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Thomas Frank's Tottenham Hotspur are set to welcome Doncaster Rovers to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday as their EFL Cup campaign gets underway.

The Premier League side have enjoyed a strong start to 2025-26 under their new manager, winning four, drawing one and losing just one of their games across all competitions so far, and they will be dreaming of adding to their trophy haul after ending a 17-year silverware drought last season.

As for their League One opponents, Grant McCann's men are currently level on points with Barnsley and Huddersfield Town in the playoff spots, and they have beaten Accrington Stanley and Middlesbrough to reach this stage.

Here, Sports Mole provides all the details on how to watch this EFL Cup third round clash.

What time does Tottenham Hotspur vs. Doncaster Rovers kick off?

Spurs will kick off their league cup campaign at 7:45pm on Wednesday for viewers in the UK.

Where is Tottenham Hotspur vs. Doncaster Rovers being played?

Rovers will travel to London to take on the Lilywhites at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a £1bn, 62,850 capacity arena that was opened in 2019.

How to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs. Doncaster Rovers in the UK

TV channels

This match will be broadcast on the Sky Sports+ channel, where more than 1000 EFL, Carabao Cup and Vertu Trophy games will be shown throughout the season.

Online streaming

Fans can also stream the clash on the Sky Sports app, which is available at no additional cost for Sky Sports subscribers.

Highlights

Key moments such as goals or red cards will be posted on the Sky Sports X (formerly Twitter) account, and highlights will be available on the Sky Sports app after the final whistle.

A variety of highlight reels as well as a full match replay will also be accessible on SPURSPLAY, Tottenham's club-specific service.

Who will win Tottenham Hotspur vs. Doncaster Rovers?

Spurs are undoubtedly the favourites to progress to the fourth round given that they ply their trade two divisions above Doncaster, and considering that anything other than victory on Wednesday will be seen as an embarrassment, the hosts will be expecting to win relatively comfortably.

However, Manchester United were eliminated by League Two Grimsby Town last month, and even Premier League champions Liverpool were felled by lower-tier opposition in cup competition in 2024-25, so the Lilywhites will need to be wary of taking the challenge too lightly.

Alongside losing just once in 2025-26, Frank's side have also kept four clean sheets from their opening six games, and this newfound defensive resilience could see them block out Rovers in midweek.

As for the visitors, they won five matches on the bounce between late August and early September, but have since lost consecutive clashes ahead of this cup tie, and they may be low on confidence as a result.

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to open talks over the permanent signing of a £27m midfielder in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

The Europa League winners have kept a largely settled engine room from the 2024-25 season, along with the addition of Portugal international Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich.

The former Fulham lynchpin immediately slotted into Thomas Frank's system and quickly endeared himself to the Spurs faithful, finding the net in their shock 2-0 Premier League victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.

Spurs have an option to make Palhinha's move permanent at the end of the season, and triggering that clause would pocket Bayern around £27m if reports are to be believed.

However, the Lilywhites seemingly do not want to wait so long to confirm Palhinha's permanent stay, as TBR Football - via GIVEMESPORT - claims that Tottenham plan to open talks over a deal in the January transfer window.

Tottenham to open permanent Palhinha talks in January?

Bayern would likely be receptive to early offers for the Portugal international, who struggled to settle at the Allianz Arena following his arrival from Fulham in the summer of 2024.

Palhinha joined Vincent Kompany's side after registering more tackles than any other player in the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Premier League seasons, convincing Bayern to pay £44.5m for his services.

However, the former Sporting Lisbon enforcer was restricted to just 25 appearances in his first season with FC Hollywood, failing to register a single goal or assist and only starting eight games across the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Injuries did not help Palhinha in his first season at Bayern Munich, but intense competition from Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Aleksandar Pavlovic also restricted the Portuguese's opportunities in the first XI.

However, Palhinha has already started five game for Tottenham since returning to the English capital, playing the full 90 in their 2-2 top-flight draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

Why permanent Palhinha deal is no-brainer for Tottenham

There is perhaps an unfair consensus that players are either expendable or on the decline as soon as they hit 30, but there is plenty of football left in Palhinha's legs, and Spurs keeping him around is an absolute no-brainer.

The Portugal international took no time at all to adapt to Premier League football upon his arrival at Fulham, and the statistics tell the story of a player who is unmatched when it comes to tackling.

Even in spite of his lack of game time for Bayern, Palhinha has still averaged just over four tackles per game over the past 365 days, putting him in the top 1% of all midfielders in the big five European leagues.

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly need to submit a 'huge offer' to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Conor Gallagher in the January transfer window.Â

Spurs were linked with a move for Gallagher during the summer transfer window, but the north London club did not make any formal approach as they bolstered other areas of the pitch.Â

That being said, Thomas Frank is said to be a huge admirer of Gallagher, who has featured in each of Atletico's three La Liga matches this season but only came off the bench in the last two games.Â

According to a report from Football Insider, Manchester United and Crystal Palace retain a strong interest in the 25-year-old midfielder, while Spurs could enter the bidding war for the England international.Â

Since joining from Chelsea last summer, Gallagher has scored four goals and registered six assists in 53 appearances for Atletico, and it would take a lucrative offer to lure him away from Spain.Â

How much Spurs need to pay for Gallagher?Â

It was previously reported that Tottenham are planning to make an offer for Gallagher in January, and the La Liga club could be open to letting him leave in 2026.

However, the new report suggests that Diego Simeone wants to keep a strong squad, especially if they qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, which means Atletico would be reluctant to sell Gallagher during the January window.Â

The Rojiblancos paid £33m to sign the former Chelsea midfielder in 2024, and they would demand in the region of £50m for him.Â

Spurs signed Palhinha from Bayern Munich on loan during the summer transfer window, but they still need more depth, experience, and quality in midfield, and Gallagher ticks all the boxes.Â

Should Tottenham make a move for Gallagher in January?Â

The long-term injury to James Maddison means Frank must sign a new box-to-box attacking-minded central midfielder in January.Â

Yves Bissouma has become surplus to requirements at the club, and there will be room for a new addition if he leaves.Â

Gallagher started against Liverpool in the Champions League, but he has been in and out of the side. At the same time, he has a contract at Atletico until 2029, and the La Liga giants are not under any pressure to sell him. Â

Having said that, Tottenham are expected to lurch in a fresh direction after Daniel Levy left the club, and Frank could be backed properly in the winter market. So, a potential move for Gallagher cannot be completely ruled out.Â

Tottenham Hotspur came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday afternoon's Premier League contest at the Amex.

Brighton found themselves 2-0 ahead in the 31st minute of the fixture, with Yankuba Minteh on the scoresheet before Yasin Ayari struck one from distance to leave Spurs in a world of trouble.

However, Richarlison managed to level the scores in the latter stages of the first period, before an own goal from Jan Paul van Hecke in the 82nd minute earned a point for Thomas Frank's side.

Tottenham are second in the Premier League table, boasting 10 points from their first five matches of the season, while Brighton are 12th, gathering five points from their opening five games.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

Tottenham were in all sorts of bother when Brighton doubled their lead in the 31st minute, but the response from the visitors was strong, and a point, all things considered, is an excellent result at the Amex.

Spurs have now picked up 10 points from their first five matches of the season, which has left them second, and that represents an excellent start for Frank in charge of the North London club.

Tottenham had entered this game off the back of successive wins, keeping clean sheets in both fixtures, but their goalkeeper struggled on Saturday, and he was certainly at fault for Brighton's second.

Brighton at the Amex is always a tough match for opposing teams, so Spurs can be pleased with their point, and it was another strong performance from Mohammed Kudus in a wide area.

Richarlison was also in impressive form for Spurs, while Minteh was the standout player for Brighton, and a draw was just about right when looking at the match as a whole.

BRIGHTON VS. TOTTENHAM HIGHLIGHTS

Yankuba Minteh goal vs. Tottenham (8th min, Brighton 1-0 Tottenham)

Brighton make the breakthrough in the eighth minute of the contest, and it is Minteh on the scoresheet, as the attacker races onto a pass from Georginio Rutter before rounding the Spurs goalkeeper and finding the back of the net.

Yasin Ayari goal vs. Tottenham (31st min, Brighton 2-0 Tottenham)

Brighton double their advantage in the 31st minute of the match, with Ayari finding the back of the net from distance, but questions must be asked of Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Richarlison goal vs. Brighton (43rd min, Brighton 2-1 Tottenham)

Tottenham have a goal back just before the half-time interval, as Richarlison manages to convert into the back of the net from close range following a strike from teammate Kudus.

Jan Paul van Hecke goal vs. Brighton (82nd min, Brighton 2-2 Tottenham)

Tottenham level it up at 2-2 in the 82nd minute of the match, as Van Hecke scores past his own goalkeeper, converting a cross from Kudus into the home side's goal. Will there be a late winner here?

MAN OF THE MATCH - YANKUBA MINTEH

Minteh made the breakthrough against Spurs with a brilliant goal, and the attacker continued to cause Tottenham problems throughout the afternoon with his pace and movement.

The 21-year-old also made two tackles to help his team out defensively, and he has held off competition from Ayari, Kudus and Richarlison in order to secure the man-of-the-match award.

BRIGHTON VS. TOTTENHAM MATCH STATS

Possession: Brighton 36%-64% Tottenham

Shots:Â Brighton 12-11 Tottenham

Shots on target: Brighton 4-3 Tottenham

Corners: Brighton 2-10 Tottenham

Fouls: Brighton 10-13 Tottenham

WHAT NEXT?

Brighton's attention will now switch to the EFL Cup, preparing to head to Barnsley in the third round of the competition on Tuesday night, before returning to league action at home to Chelsea next Saturday.

Tottenham, meanwhile, will host Doncaster Rovers in the EFL Cup on Wednesday night, before hosting Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League next Saturday.

No Data Analysis info

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to bid around £52m for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand.

The Lilywhites made a positive start to their Champions League campaign earlier in the week, securing a narrow victory over Villarreal in North London.

Elsewhere in UEFA's top-tier club competition, Hjulmand played 70 minutes as Sporting Lisbon smashed tournament debutants Kairat Almaty 4-1.

Over recent times, the 26-year-old has gained the honour of captaining the Primeira Liga giants, highlighting his development in Lisbon.

Since making the switch from Italian outfit Lecce over the summer of 2023, Hjulmand has featured on 103 occasions for Sporting, scoring eight goals.

Tottenham plotting £52m move for Hjulmand?

According to Spanish publication Fichajes, Tottenham are plotting the reinforcement of their midfield ranks during the upcoming transfer windows.

The report states that the Europa League winners are keen on securing the services of Denmark international Hjulmand on a big-money deal.

It is understood that Tottenham are preparing to submit an initial financial package totalling £52m for the talents of the 26-year-old in the near future.

Despite being happy and content in Lisbon, it is believed that a lucrative switch to the Premier League could be too good to turn down for Hjulmand.

Fellow Dane and Spurs head coach Thomas Frank is said to be a major part in the North London club's interest in the engine room enforcer.

Sporting suffer raids

After a successful spell under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim, Sporting Lisbon's greatest talents continue to be snatched by Europe's elite clubs.

The most obvious example of this is the move of Swedish marksman Viktor Gyokeres to Premier League giants Arsenal over the summer.

Following his record of netting around a goal per game on the Portuguese scene, the 27-year-old was always destined for a transfer away.

Fresh from their midweek European triumph, Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to win their third successive game in seven days across all competitions when they travel to the Amex Stadium to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Spurs will be seeking revenge against the Seagulls after losing both home and away meetings in the top flight last season, conceding seven goals in the process.

Match preview

Brighton entered September’s international break on a high after beating Manchester City 2-1 on home soil, but they were brought back down to earth last weekend when they suffered defeat by the same scoreline at the hands of Bournemouth.

Kaoru Mitoma’s first goal of the season restored parity for the Seagulls three minutes into the second half, but they eventually came away from the Vitality Stadium empty handed, as Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily stuck out a leg to concede a penalty which Antoine Semenyo converted to condemn the visitors to their second loss after four league games this term.

Fabian Hurzeler was left “frustrated” after his 50th game in charge of Brighton, as he felt that his players “didn’t get the rewards” they deserved for their tireless efforts, particularly in the second half. Nevertheless, the result leaves Brighton 13th in the table, one point above the relegation zone and five behind the top four.

Brighton will welcome a return to the Amex Stadium on Saturday, as they have lost just one of their last 10 Premier League matches in front of their own supporters (W6 D3) and they are unbeaten in their last six on home soil (W3 D3) since a 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa in April.

The Seagulls should back themselves to pick up maximum points against Tottenham considering they have won three of their last four Premier League meetings with the North Londoners, completing the double over them last season (3-2 at home and 4-1 away) which is the only time that they have ever won back-to-back league encounters with Spurs.

After suffering their first setback of the Thomas Frank era against Bournemouth (1-0) prior to the international break, Tottenham have since responded well as they have won their last two matches against West Ham United and Villarreal without reply.

A deserved 3-0 away victory over 10-man West Ham in the Premier League last weekend was followed by a narrow 1-0 home win over Villarreal in their opening League Phase fixture of the Champions League on Wednesday, courtesy of a fourth-minute own goal from goalkeeper Luiz Junior.

Outscoring the opposition was the mantra under former boss Ange Postecoglou, but Tottenham’s focus appears to have shifted towards keeping the ball out at the other end of the pitch under Frank, who was “happy with the defensive side of the game” from his new-look Spurs team after they did not concede a single shot on target against Villarreal.

Tottenham, who have conceded just one goal across 450 minutes of competitive football this term, sit third in the Premier League table and head into Saturday’s clash with Brighton having already won their first two away league games by an aggregate score of 5-0; not since November 2020 under Jose Mourinho have they won three consecutive PL matches on the road (four in a row).

Spurs have lost in both of the last two league visits to the Amex, but they have never suffered three consecutive away defeats to Brighton, while Frank has only lost one of his last six encounters with the Seagulls (W2 D3) - all while in charge of Brentford - having previously lost his first two PL meetings in the 2021-22 season.

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:

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Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):

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Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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Team News

To compound Brighton’s disappointment at Bournemouth last weekend, Jack Hinshelwood (ankle) and Maxin De Cuyper (knee) were both forced off with injuries in the first half. While Hinshelwood has joined Adam Webster and Solly March (both knee) in the treatment room, De Cuyper is a doubt for Saturday, but Mats Wieffer (knee) and Diego Gomez (illness) are both fit and available for selection.

If De Cuyper is not deemed fit to start at left-back, then Ferdi Kadioglu will be expected to earn a place in the back four next to Lewis Dunk, Jan Paul van Hecke and Joel Veltman, while either Carlos Baleba or Yasin Ayari is set to replace Hinshelwood in midfield.

Yankuba Minteh has the highest take-on success rate among players with 10 or more attempted in the Premier League this season (65% - 13/20) and the Gambian is set to continue in attack along with Mitoma, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

As for Tottenham, Dominic Solanke is “progressing forward" in his recovery from an ankle injury after returning to training, but Saturday’s contest will come too soon for the striker, who remains sidelined with Yves Bissouma (knock), Kota Takai (foot), James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin (all knee).

Frank will consider making a couple of changes to his starting lineup, with Destiny Udogie back fit and in contention to start at left-back ahead of Djed Spence, while deep-lying midfielder Joao Palhinha will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI at the expense of Rodrigo Bentancur.

Richarlison, Mathys Tel and Randal Kolo Muani will all battle it out for the centre-forward spot, with the former likely to get the nod, and he could be joined in the final third by Xavi Simons and fellow summer signing Mohammed Kudus, although Brennan Johnson - who scored in an away defeat to Brighton last season - is ready to earn a recall on either flank.

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Palhinha, Bergvall; Kudus, Richarlison, Simons

We say: Brighton & Hove Albion 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur

If history is anything to go by, a draw may not be on the cards this weekend as each of the last 15 meetings between Brighton (six) and Spurs (nine) across all competitions have produced a winner.

Spurs have not enjoyed their recent trips to the Amex, but they look a much stronger outfit under Frank this term and we are backing the North Londoners to outscore a Seagulls side who have not looked wholly convincing in the early stages of the new campaign.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke was not seen in training ahead of the Lilywhites' Champions League showdown with Villarreal on Tuesday evening.

The £65m attacker has endured a disrupted start to the 2025-26 season, playing just 49 minutes across two Premier League appearances and one UEFA Super Cup substitute outing.

Solanke made second-half cameos against Burnley and Manchester City in Spurs' first two top-flight outings of the campaign, but he has since been sidelined with an ankle injury.

The 28-year-old is expected to be the next cab off the rank in terms of Tottenham's injury victims, as Thomas Frank revealed before the weekend's 3-0 Premier League win over West Ham United that he was "not too far away" from returning.

However, the visit of Villarreal may come too soon for Solanke to make his comeback, as he was not seen in open training with the rest of the squad on Monday morning.

Solanke missing from Tottenham training ahead of Villarreal clash

Frank will be expected to give a firm update in his pre-game press conference, but the signs are that Solanke will not be available for the meeting with Marcelino's side at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The former Liverpool striker will be one of at least seven absentees for the Lilywhites in midweek, as Kota Takai, Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison are all nursing injuries.

In any case, the latter five were all left out of Tottenham's squad for the league phase of the Champions League, as a result of both their injuries and Spurs' well-documented problems signing and promoting home-grown players.

Mathys Tel was also omitted from Frank's 22-man selection for the first stage of Europe's premier tournament, during which Spurs will also take on Bodo/Glimt, Monaco, Copenhagen, Paris Saint-Germain, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Randal Kolo Muani or Richarlison up front for Tottenham?

With Solanke likely absent and Tel ineligible for the league phase, either Richarlison or Randal Kolo Muani can be expected to lead the line for Tottenham in their first Champions League clash of the season.

Tel was given the nod up front for the weekend's victory over West Ham, briefly playing alongside Richarlison after the latter replaced Xavi Simons in the 71st minute, shortly before Wilson Odobert came on for Tel.

However, new signing Randal Kolo Muani was left to watch proceedings from the bench as an unused substitute, meaning that the Paris Saint-Germain loanee has not played since Juventus' Club World Cup last-16 loss to Real Madrid on July 1.

As a result, Richarlison will almost certainly get the nod over his French counterpart to start against Villarreal, although Kolo Muani can feel optimistic of making his Spurs debut as a substitute on Tuesday.

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