2 days ago
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Thomas Frank is already finding out just how difficult it is to keep Tottenham Hotspur players out of the treatment room with a string of key players out.
The Dane has only been at Spurs for a few months yet is waiting for a number of his star names to become available. He lost James Maddison to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the final pre-season match of the summer against Newcastle in South Korea which means the midfielder will miss most of the campaign ahead.
Frank was already waiting for his other playmaker to come back from injury. Dejan Kulusevski suffered an injury to his knee in the match against Crystal Palace last season which required surgery. football.london reported on Tuesday that the Swede is set to return towards the end of 2025 and potentially not until December, barring a quicker than expected recovery.
The Spurs head coach is also awaiting the return of centre-backs Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai from injury. The Romanian suffered an ACL injury back in January during the victory against Elfsborg in the Europa League, while newcomer Takai only arrived this summer before suffering from a plantar fascia foot problem.
football.london asked Frank about both Dragusin's return and Yves Bissouma's recent knee injury on Friday.
"I think with Bissouma, one thing for sure, he's out for the next game and then the specific timeline I'm a little bit in doubt of because I don't think it'll be that long," said the Dane. "Dragusin is on the way back and he's been running for a while. I think he should join the team in a week's time, 10 days' time, I think that's the thing, so that's positive, but of course it is an ACL.
"I'm always a little bit more, not worried but just aware that it takes time. When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, you need to get in. It's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course."
When it comes to Takai, football.london reported last week that he was back outside working with the ball and Frank later confirmed he could be back in training soon.
There is also Dominic Solanke who continues to have issues with an ankle problem that has bothered him for most of the summer.
"He's got a minor issue with his ankle, which has been grumbling a bit, also in pre-season. It is just too much for this game. Now we have the international break, so hopefully he can be back after that," said Frank on Saturday.
football.london then reported on Monday that Spurs are still hoping Solanke's problem will be sorted over the next couple of weeks and the player has had an injection in his ankle to try to settle it down. The deadline day signing of Randal Kolo Muani suggests they are planning just in case it turns out to be anything worse.
Frank got a few new faces in the past week in the transfer window but he will be hoping that some of his old ones come back sooner rather than later.
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