Tottenham Hotspur

Mathys Tel has shared with local youngsters the importance of tackling discrimination at a Tottenham Hotspur Foundation education session today.

Our French attacker visited Lea Valley Primary School, nearby Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where this month, the UK’s Black History Month, the Foundation has hosted a ‘Greatness Comes from Everywhere’ poetry competition celebrating diversity.

Making his visit ahead of the Premier League’s No Room For Racism campaign, Mathys awarded the winning poet after taking part in an inspirational message workshop, whilst speaking candidly about his own recent experience of racism in a Q&A session.

He said: “As a person and a player, it’s difficult to read these type of comments, but it doesn't matter what people say about you, if they talk negatively about you, it’s important to always believe in yourself and create something positive out of it.”

Mathys also surprised the children by gifting all of them Spurs shirts.

“For me, it’s all about sharing. If you can share something positive with children, they’ll remember it and always appreciate it. If I’m able to give something back, I’ll do it, like here today. To see the youngsters wearing my shirts made me so happy.”

Amiira, nine, who won the poetry competition, said: “It’s always really fun when we have Spurs in the school and it was so exciting to meet Mathys - he was really nice. I wrote my poem to help racism end and so that everyone will be treated fairly, like they’d want to be treated by others.”

The Foundation session was run as part of its delivery of the Premier League Primary Stars programme that has engaged 7,000 children across almost 100 schools over the last four years. Funded through the Premier League Charitable Fund, it uses the appeal of football to develop essential life skills.

Andrew Wands, Foundation education manager, said: “It’s so important young people feel seen, heard and empowered to stand up against discrimination. Through sessions like this, we’re not just teaching about diversity, we’re helping to build a more inclusive future. Having Mathys share his personal story really brought that message home.”

Maria Kokotsis, Lea Valley headteacher, said: “Having Mathys visit our school was an unforgettable experience for the children. His honesty, kindness and message of unity really resonated with them. Initiatives like this show our pupils their voices matter and that standing up against racism is something we all have a role in.”

We are showing our support for the No Room For Racism campaign ahead of this Sunday’s match with Aston Villa, to highlight the importance of diversity and remind fans that discrimination has no place at Spurs, in our game or society.

We're back in action this weekend following the recent international break as we host Aston Villa in the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm UK).

There have been 50 top-flight meetings between us and the Villans dating back to 1997/98 and, remarkably, the last 20 such fixtures have not seen a draw since a 1-1 at Villa Park in May 2012, with us winning 14 of those.

However, we're out for revenge this time after we fell to a 2-0 away defeat in our previous league outing in May last term and this weekend provides a fresh opportunity for Thomas Frank to get the better of Villa boss Unai Emery for the first time.

Currently sitting third in the standings after seven matches, our Head Coach will be buoyed by the impressive start and looking to pick up where we left off with that battling win at Leeds United which extended our unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

Mohammed Kudus, who played a key role in Ghana securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opened his Spurs account in that 2-1 success at Elland Road and the dangerous winger has completed 30 dribbles in the league so far this season, with no other player completing 20 or more.

Meanwhile, an interesting battle ground to keep an eye on will be in the set-piece department. This area has been a key focus under Thomas, something that could prove essential against the West Midlands outfit. We have scored from two corners to Villa's one, yet 25 per cent of our opponent's shots in the Premier League this season have been from corner situations (19/76) - only West Ham have a higher ratio (26 per cent) - so we'll also have to be resolute defensively to limit their chances.

Our Subway Women’s League Cup group phase continues on Sunday afternoon – and the action is live on SPURSPLAY!

In the final game before the October international break, we welcome Women’s Super League 2 side Birmingham City to Brisbane Road this weekend in our second fixture of the competition. Kick-off is 2pm (UK) and you can watch live on SPURSPLAY.

Tickets are available at Brisbane Road on the day for supporters who wish to come and watch the game in person.

We began our journey in the competition with a goalless draw at home to Aston Villa before winning the subsequent penalty shootout 7-6 to earn ourselves an extra point in the group.

The Blues, who are currently second in their league after a positive start to the campaign, also picked up two points in their opening game after a 2-2 draw with Bristol City before winning their shootout 4-3 at St Andrew’s.

It’ll be the first time we’ve faced Birmingham in this competition, although we’ve met on four occasions in the WSL – winning three and drawing once.

This Halloween, we’re inviting families to step inside our world-class home for a week of frightful fun as part of our ever-popular stadium tours.

From 25 to 31 October, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be transformed with Halloween touches along the tour route, creating the perfect setting for little ghosts and ghouls to explore.

As you make your way around, follow the activity trail by solving riddles and stop by the M Café where children can enjoy themed food, colouring competitions and more. There’ll be face painting to complete your spooky look, games to enjoy and plenty of Halloween magic to keep the whole family entertained. Don’t forget to snap a photo with the UEFA Europa League trophy during your visit, too!

Every young visitor will also have the chance to enter our colouring competition for the chance to win exclusive signed Spurs merchandise, making this a half-term to remember.

And the best part? KIDS GO FREE this half-term!

Supporters travelling to Monaco for our UEFA Champions League match against AS Monaco on Wednesday 22 October are advised to take note of the following important information which includes...

Guidance from the Foreign Office on travelling to Monaco

The range of transport options available to and from the Stade Louis-II

Details of the stadium entry process, including full body searches by the local police, and that supporters may be asked to remove shoes or hats during this process

Only handbags smaller than A5 in size will be permitted inside the stadium. Supporters are advised to only carry essential items

Arrangements for access supporters, including the need to access wheelchair spaces and ambulant seating via the home section

Information on prohibited items, including restrictions on battery packs that connect to a cable and vapes – a bag storage facility is available for such items

Flags must be pre-approved, submitting details to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com no later than Monday 20 October at 9am

Kick-off is 9pm local time (8pm UK time).

Please note the previous visiting supporters’ section at Stade Louis-II is currently undergoing renovation and, as a result, there are limited concourse facilities, including temporary toilet units, for our supporters.

Should supporters have any queries regarding their trip to Monaco, please contact supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com.

Matchday ticket collections/spot-checks

At the start of this season, the Club announced plans to increase the number of random spot checks and matchday collections required for away games to help ensure that tickets are allocated and used in the fairest way possible. Having listened to feedback from supporters, including the views of the Fan Advisory Board and Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust, we will be introducing this process for European away games, wherever possible.

For the AS Monaco away match, a number of tickets will be held for collection in the vicinity of Stade Louis-II. Full information will be sent in the coming days to those supporters who have been randomly selected to collect their ticket on production of photo ID.

Monaco

Monaco is a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera, known as the world's second-smallest country. The official language is French, but many others are widely spoken. The nearest airport to Monaco is Nice Côte d'Azur Airport (NCE) in France, located about 20 miles (30-32 km) away.

Trains run regularly from Nice-Ville station to Monaco Monte-Carlo station on matchday, the latter being only 15 minutes’ walk from the Stade Louis-II. Local police will be present on the route from the station to the stadium.

No local areas have been identified as areas which should be avoided by supporters. However, we recommend fans familiarise themselves with the Foreign Office’s travel advice.

Should you experience any problems whilst in Monaco you can call the Club’s Travel Line - 07917 880445. This number will be available throughout the day/evening of the match.

The local currency in Monaco is the Euro.

No alcohol sales on matchday in Monaco or inside the stadium

The sale of alcohol within Monaco is strictly prohibited on matchdays. There is also no alcohol available inside the stadium.

Getting to the stadium

Supporters are strongly advised by the local police to arrive at the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.

There are several ways to reach the Stade Louis-II. If your ticket is in the visitors’ section, you will need to approach the stadium via Avenue du port. Click here for a map.

The local police will be conducting ticket checks and thorough body searches, so we recommend arriving to the stadium as early as possible to avoid peak queuing periods.

Train timetable

The TER connects Monaco Monte-Carlo station via Nice or Italy, using the Cannes-Nice-Ventimiglia line. The Stade Louis-II is easily accessible from the train station, on foot, by bus or by taxi. The stadium is just 15 minutes’ walk from Monaco Monte-Carlo train station.

AS Monaco have advised that the final trains departing Nice-Ville station to Monaco Monte-Carlo station are as follows:

Car

The A8 motorway passes just 8 km from the city centre and allows access from France via Nice and from Italy via Menton. If using the highway, the exit to take is N°56-Monaco.

Alternatively, access between Nice and Monaco is also possible by the "Basse Corniche" (N.98), along the seaside, or by the "Moyenne Corniche" (N.7), which passes through Eze Village but also by the "Grande Corniche" passing by La Turbie and the Col d'Eze.

Bus

Bus Ligne d'Azur n°100 is available from Nice, as well as from Menton. The stops closest to Stade Louis-II are Cap d'Ail - Liberté or Monaco - Cemetery. The Compagnie des Autobus de Monaco serves the entire city of Monaco. The Stade Louis-II is served by lines four and six.

Taxi

More than 85 taxi companies are available, 24 hours a day, in Monaco.

Airport

Nice Cote d'Azur Airport connects Monaco with the whole world. From the airport, it is 22km from Nice to Monaco. Please note that there will be traffic on the roads on matchday, which could delay your journey between the airport and stadium.

On arrival at Stade Louis-II

Turnstiles will open 2 hours before kick-off at 7pm local time.

Supporters must approach the stadium via Avenue du Port to access the visiting supporters’ entrance. Click here for a map.

The local police will conduct ticket checks and a thorough body search on approach to the turnstiles. Please note that the police may request that supporters remove shoes or hats when carrying out their searches. Police search dogs will also be present outside of the visitors’ section. We thank our supporters for their patience and understanding when entering the stadium and cooperating with the local authorities.

Supporters are strongly advised to only bring essential items with them to the stadium. Bag and luggage storage are available at the stadium, please ask a member of Spurs staff for assistance on arrival at the visitors’ section. See prohibited items section for more information.

The visiting supporters’ section is located in the south of the stadium, with all seating in one tier. The pitch is surrounded by an athletics track. The area is segregated on both sides between the home and away supporters, but no fencing or netting covers the view of the pitch.

Category 1 match ticket holders

Supporters who have been allocated a UEFA Category 1 match ticket are strongly advised not to wear Club colours as seating will be in the home section. Supporters with Category 1 tickets will gain entry to the stadium via Entrance A, with seats located in the Honneurs stand.

Post-match hold back

On instruction from the local police in Monaco, our supporters may be held in the visiting supporters’ section after the game for up to 15 minutes.

Accessibility

Access supporters should carefully note the important information below:

All access supporters’ tickets are allocated in the home section of the stadium, AS Monaco advise fans not to wear Club colours.

Access supporters should arrive to the stadium via Entrance A, in the Honneurs stand, where the Spurs Access and Supporter Engagement team will meet you.

Once inside the lobby area, there are several lower height turnstiles available, including one for wheelchair users. Supporters should scan their ticket and make their way to the right-hand side where there is a lift service available to the upper tier.

Wheelchair users

Wheelchair spaces are accessible via the home section and are adjacent to the main stand for home supporters. There is a clear view of the pitch, with no obstructions.

Ambulant supporters

There is no dedicated ambulant seating, however, ambulant supporters will be allocated tickets in the home area in the back two rows of the Category 1 seating, which are among Spurs supporters. There are no handrails available, with a maximum of two steps to reach your seat from the gangway.

Access amenities

Amenities for access supporters are located in the home section of the stadium. There are kiosks selling food and drink, however, there are no lowered counters, no hearing loops and no dedicated accessible lanes.

There is one accessible toilet. There is no Changing Places facility.

There is no audio descriptive commentary service available, however, supporters can tune into the commentary service available on the Official Spurs App.

THFC Flags - flag display

We’re once again joining up with independent supporter group THFC Flags who will be waving eight of their large flags in the away end at Stade Louis-II.

THFC Flags are behind many of the fantastic displays we see at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. To learn more about their work and how you can support them, click here...

Medical exemption policy

Any supporters requiring medical exemption to the bag policy, or any prohibited items are strongly advised to contact the Club in advance of travel at access@tottenhamhotspur.com.

Bag Policy

Supporters are strongly advised to only bring essential items to the stadium. Only small handbags, no larger than A5 in size, will be allowed into the stadium after searches by local police at the entrance.

Backpacks, rucksacks, luggage or any prohibited items will not be allowed into the stadium, however, there is a bag storage facility at the visitor’s section. Please speak to a member of Spurs staff for further assistance on arrival at the stadium.

Please see AS Monaco’s list of prohibited items for further information.

Phone chargers

Only small portable chargers are permitted in the stadium. Battery packs/chargers that connect to a cable will not be permitted and will be directed to the bag storage facility. Supporters are advised to fully charge their phones in advance of travelling to the stadium.

Flag Policy

Flags must be smaller than 2m x 1.5m.

All flags will be checked outside of the turnstiles by staff prior to entering the stadium. Supporters with flags are advised to speak with a member of Spurs staff on arrival at the stadium.

To make this process as easy as possible for staff and supporters, we ask fans to submit the following to supporterservices@tottenhamhotspur.com by 9am on Monday 20 October:

Image of your flag

Size/dimensions of your flag

Confirmation that it is fire retardant (image of the fire certificate)

Please note, as at other stadia in the UK and Europe, flags with religious / sectarian / political / inflammatory or offensive messages will not be permitted and may be confiscated. Flag poles are not permitted.

Supporters are also reminded of the Club’s own Flags and Banners Policy which is in effect at away matches.

Concourse and payments

There is one food and beverage kiosk in the visiting supporters’ section which will accept cash (Euro) and major debit and credit cards. The menu includes sandwiches, hot dogs and confectionary as well as hot and cold drinks. No alcohol is available inside the stadium. Menus will be advertised with pricing clearly marked.

Temporary toilet facilities

Supporters should note that toilet facilities are extremely limited, with four portaloos available in the visitors’ section (two men and two women cubicles). Portable urinals are also in place.

Smoking/vaping

Smoking and vaping are not permitted in the stadium. Police have instructed that e-cigarettes and/or vapes will be removed at the turnstiles, but can be placed in bag storage.

Prohibited items

Supporters are strongly advised to travel light, only bringing essential items with them to the stadium. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to; battery packs that connect via a cable, vapes/e-cigarettes, lighters, umbrellas, cameras, bottles and canned drinks.

AS Monaco also remind visiting supporters that the local police have strict laws on the use of pyrotechnics.

Please see AS Monaco’s list of prohibited items for further information.

Spurs respects

We are justly proud of our superb a d loyal support at home and away. We all have a responsibspursrespectsility to act as ambassadors of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and act as considerate visitors to those who live and work in the cities and countries we visit. Please respect local customs and traditions by not placing flags or banners on local statues or monuments.

We recognise that most supporters want to watch a football match and not to listen to abusive or indecent language from the stands. Discriminatory behaviour which includes shouting, chanting or actions such as racist, sectarian, homophobic, sexist or anti-disability behaviour is unacceptable. If you witness incidents like these, please get in contact with a steward as soon as you can.

Martin Ho reported no new updates in terms of injuries on Friday afternoon ahead of our Subway Women's League Cup against Birmingham City on Sunday (2pm UK).

Our League Cup campaign resumes with the visit of the Blues to Brisbane Road in our second game of the group phase, having earned two points from the opening fixture with Aston Villa – a goalless draw before winning the subsequent penalty shootout.

Now, after a full week of training ahead of our final match before the international break, Head Coach Martin revealed that 'everyone is in contention' for the cup clash this weekend.

However, in respect of our long-term injuries, Ella Morris and Luana Buhler both remain sidelined and, therefore, unavailable.

Speaking to the media in his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, he said: "Everyone has been training this week. Apart from the long-term injuries - Ella [Morris] and Luana [Buhler] - everyone is in contention."

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, ahead of our Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

Here's what he had to say...

How’s the squad looking?

Thomas: “Kolo Muani has trained now for two weeks with the team, so that's good. He looks better and better. He will be in contention for tomorrow, so that's positive. Dom's progressed well after the surgery, been on the pitch, he's progressing and he's going forward, so that's good. Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks.”

How will it work with Fabio Paratici’s return?

Thomas: “Obviously, Fabio worked as a consultant for the club, so, I met him a few times in the last couple of months. I'm looking forward to getting to know him more. Of course, when it's more day to day, you will get to know each other even better. I’m looking forward to work together. I'm not in doubt that Fabio, Johan, I and Vinai will create a very strong team and together, I'm convinced that we can create something very good. I'm used to working with two Sporting Directors, I did that for nine years in Brentford. I actually think you need two these days to cover everything, because it's such a big job. I think also the two of them complement each other.”

Did you have an input into it?

Thomas: “I would say there was thoughts about it, of course. It happens when the first time Vinai spoke about it, I was a little bit, like you said there, very positive about it because I think it will work very well. No-one that is perfect in this world. The strong abilities both Johan and Fabio have, I think that they complement each other so well, so it's like a perfect match. So, they're just like this and then we cover more together.”

Will you hope to have the final say, if it’s a player potentially in January or the summer?

Thomas: “I always have a final say, you know that, of course, in the end. It's team work. I'm pretty sure if one of the, I would say three of us, because Vinai is the same, not technically, technical or whatever you call it. Of course, he will have an opinion, but the three of us need to agree and if one, let's take an example, it doesn't matter if it's me, Fabio, and it's very, very, very strong, they should not be the player, then that's probably not that right. So, I'm pretty sure that we will find a good way to do it.”

You’ve seven games in 22 days coming up - after the start of the season does that fill you with excitement and not apprehension?

Thomas: “Yeah, definitely. We love to play games. Every footballer loves to play a game instead of training. Coaches, we like to train a little bit more sometimes, but in general, we love to play the games. We have a fantastic run of games ahead of us, starting with Villa on Sunday – a top team, top manager, Unai, I respect him a lot. I think what he's done in his career is amazing. What he created at Villa is fantastic in so many areas. I think they did well in the Champions League last season and almost qualified for the Champions League again, which is very impressive and I think they have a very strong team. So, yeah, looking forward to it.”

Does the start to the season whet the appetite on what could be achieved when key players return?

Thomas: “I think we all have an idea in our head what could be the strongest team with all the players available, but probably the reality is that you need to create the strongest possible team of the players you have available now. That is my task, that is my job and get the best out of that. So, it's nice to dream a little bit, but like with all dreams, it's not reality - reality is here, now, what kind of players we have available. That said, of course, I'd love some of them to be fit and available.”

Are you a little surprised with Villa’s start considering how good they’ve been in the past couple of years?

Thomas: “This is meant as a positive. I would say no, because when I see them performing and their structure and the way they play, I see a lot of the same that I've seen from Unai Emery's Villa team in the last three seasons. I see a lot of the same strengths. They're very, very good in the build-up and in phase two and have fantastic structure. They're very composed and have fantastic players. We know in Rogers, doing fantastic, Ollie Watkins, Malen is starting to score goals, Onana in midfield, Kamara, I know Tielemans is injury, but that's a top team. The back four is very good as well. It's a team and you can see they're growing. I expect an unbelievable, tight game on Sunday that we're very positive about and that we will do everything to edge. We hope and I believe we can, but it will be a strong test on Sunday.”

How much info do you use with data in regard to your approach to matchdays?

Thomas: “Not too much to matchdays, I would say. I use data, of course, I've done that for a long time to create the right narrative that I want to maybe get across to the players or to you guys to make sure we get the right message out there. That's one thing. Secondly, I think it's good to have another indicator or benchmark that you can look towards that is analysing performance. But my eyes and my knowledge or principles of what I believe in is always the most important thing. I think it's very important to have the stats to back up the performance either way, good or bad.”

Do the stats match up with what your eyes are telling you?

Thomas: “I think there's yes and no. I think there's some areas I've been very happy with. So, it's not only xG, both ends, that's very simple to look at. I've always wanted it to be top and at the other end, but I think seven games is a very small sample, in general. So, there's elements and parts of our game I've been very pleased with. For example, the high pressure, a bit of the phase one as well. I think our middle pressure is getting better and better, for example and then a big thing for me, number of crosses and arriving in the box. We are in the top. That’s key for me, because if we put a lot of crosses in, hopefully more with quality, have enough players arriving in the right gaps, in the right areas, that would give us a big opportunity for scoring goals.”

Do you think it will be likely we’ll see Dominic Solanke before the next international break. Will you have to be cautious with him?

Thomas: “I think the good thing is he's positive. He's progressing now. He's still training on his own, so I don't want to be too excited or too negative either way. I'm actually taking a little bit day by day and week by week to see how quickly he progresses. Dom is a naturally fit player. There are some players that naturally get that fitness up to a high level. But of course, also he's taken into consideration he basically hasn't trained with the team since July. That's not to say it will take three months to get up to pace. It will take a little bit of time to get up to pace. How long, I don't know.”

How excited are you to get Kolo Muani out there and be able to use him in this busy period?

Thomas: “I think it's very important to have him fit and available. I think he looks better and better. I think it's also fair to say that he has trained two weeks with the team and when he came on the 1st of September - time flies! - he still needed a bit to go up to the higher level. But it's not to say that he can't be involved tomorrow and maybe can play minutes. But I think it's fair to say that he needs a little bit of time to get up to a full level.”

Home form hasn’t been great for a while, before your time. Looking at the fixtures - Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United - are those the type of homes games you’ll relish over this period to correct this home form?

Thomas: “In general, I think every team, and I can speak us, we would like our home to be a fortress. That is the ultimate aim. Can we make our home an unbelievably difficult place to come to? Then the job is half done in terms of what we like to try to achieve. That is an unbelievable cohesion between the team and the fans. That needs to go hand in hand. It can not only be the team. It can not only be the fans. It needs to be both. And we need to bring energy to each other. That is absolutely key and we need to do everything that we can to work unbelievably hard, perform well, try to be positive, all of that, but we also need a little bit of help. We know football, in every game, goes a little bit up and down. You have good spells, bad spells. The Premier League is the most relentless league in the world. It's so difficult to compete in, so we need the fans, especially, especially in the tough moments. The better they can be behind the team, not easy, because it's not easy, the better it will be and they will feel more success for the team. So, we need that. When our fans are behind the team, and the stadium is rocking, I think it's one of the best places in the world.”

How pleasing was it to see Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel’s form for France Under-21s in the international break and how keen are you to continue trying to help them fulfil their potential?

Thomas: “It was so nice to see both of them perform well for their country. I agree. I watched all their assists and goals and actions from their games. I think sometimes you are in momentum, you're in good rhythm. Clearly, both of them are in a good rhythm, scoring goals, performing well, having good actions. So, I think that's key. I'm pleased with both players in general. I think they are developing and taking steps in the right direction.”

Have you spoken to Kolo Muani about going to the World Cup?

Thomas: “The World Cup is far away, in general. I understand that the players are thinking about it. I haven't spoken to him about it, if I'm honest, because I think for any player to want to be involved in the World Cup, you need to play. And for whatever reason, he hasn't been able to do it yet. What I'm focussing on is to make sure that he is in a good place. Try to get him into his best possible performance level. And when he is in that best possible performance level, he'll hopefully do very well for us, and then the rest will take care of itself.”

Thomas Frank had contrasting news on Dominic Solanke and Yves Bissouma's fitness on Friday.

He reported that striker Dominic - who last appeared at City on 23 August - is 'progressing well' after undergoing minor ankle surgery at the end of September.

However, the news was less positive on midfielder Yves, who picked up an injury on international duty for Mali in midweek.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Thomas reported: "Dom is progressing well after surgery, he's been back on pitch this week, he's progressing and going forward, that's good. Biss, unfortunately, had a situation with the national team, I think everyone saw that, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle that will keep him out for weeks.”

Thomas Frank reports that Randal Kolo Muani is set to join the squad for our Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (2pm).

The striker has been laid low with a dead leg since making his debut against Villarreal in the Champions League on 16 September.

He's been back on the training pitches at Hotspur Way for the last fortnight - including playing 45 minutes of a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford last week - and is now ready to step back into action.

Asked about Kolo Muani's fitness at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Thomas answered: "Kolo Muani has trained for two weeks with the team, that's good. He looks better and better and is in contention for the squad on Sunday, so that's a positive."

Birmingham City head into Sunday’s Subway Women’s League Cup tie on the back of returning to winning ways in the Women’s Super League 2.

The former WSL side, runners-up in 2011 and 2012, are currently sat second in the WSL 2 after six games and are just one-point behind league leaders Charlton Athletic, as they eye a return to England’s top flight – having narrowly missed out on promotion last term to London City Lionesses on the final day of the season.

After suffering a narrow defeat to Southampton earlier this month, the midlands-based outfit returned to winning ways in the WSL 2 with an emphatic 4-0 win at Ipswich Town last weekend. Chelsea Cornet fired them ahead in the first half before Océane Hurtré, Batcheba Louis and Martha Harris were on target in the second period to secure a comfortable win at JobServe Community Stadium.

Amy Merricks’ side are unbeaten on the road since December, 2024 – a defeat against Leicester City in the Women’s League Cup group phase. Alongside their victory over Ipswich Town, they have also enjoyed a victory away from home at Sheffield United (2-1 win) while being held to a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

Watch | Our last meeting with the Blues in WSL

The Blues began this cup competition with a 2-2 draw with Bristol City before winning the subsequent penalty shootout 4-3 at St Andrew’s, putting us on level points in the group ahead of this weekend’s clash.

Youngster Riya Rani Mannu and Lucy Quinn, a former Spur between 2019 to 2021, fired them into a 2-0 goal lead at St Andrew’s, but the visitors’ Lexi Lloyd-Smith and Olivia Johnson pulled the Robins back to earn a point and force a penalty shootout.

Having joined the club in the summer from Durham, where she progressed through the ranks at the Wildcats into their first team, forward Lily Crosthwaite is the Blues’ leading goalscorer this campaign with three goals and two assists in six games in the WSL 2.

Sunday’s encounter at Brisbane Road will be our first-ever meeting in this competition, but we have enjoyed plenty of success over the Blues in the WSL.

Head-to-Head

Our record against Birmingham City:

Games played: 4

Spurs wins: 3

Draws: 1

Birmingham wins: 0

Spurs goals: 8

Birmingham goals: 1

In the dugout

Amy Merricks

Appointed as Head Coach of Birmingham in April, 2024, she led the Blues to second in the WSL 2 last term, narrowly missing out on promotion to England’s top flight. Prior to her move to the midlands, she spent time at Brighton as interim manager, becoming the WSL’s youngest serving boss, before taking the helm of England Women’s Under-19 Head Coach.

A foot in both camps

Cho So-Hyun

The South Korea international initially joined us on loan in January, 2021, before making her move permanent in July, 2021. She went on to make 33 appearances across two seasons, scoring one goal, before joining the Blues in September, 2023. The midfielder featured 29 times for her current club, netting three goals.