Tottenham have received an injury boost ahead of Saturday's trip to Brighton, with Dominic Solanke back out on the grass at Hotspur Way.
The striker has been dealing with an ankle injury since the start of Thomas Frank's first summer at the helm, and he hasn't featured during the first six weeks of the new season as a result.
Solanke was Spurs' major summer signing in 2024, and the man deemed responsible for filling the void left by Harry Kane (good luck, pal). His debut campaign ended with 16 goals and assists in 45 games, and he scored five times during our successful Europa League run.
The 28-year-old has never been a prolific performer at the highest level, but Solanke offers a lot more than mere goalscoring, which, of course, is a significant part of the job. His role under Ange Postecoglou revolved around facilitation and defensive output, with his profile aligning with the type of forward Frank has maximised in the past.
Many suspected he'd retain his status as Spurs' starting centre-forward in his sophomore year, but a frustrating niggle has thrust Richarlison up the pecking order.
Dominic Solanke is back on the grass ahead of Brighton game
Dominic Solanke is back in individual training for Tottenham Hotspur after a spell out with injury ⚪ pic.twitter.com/HNEQHNsKP8
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 18, 2025
Frank has been consistent in playing down the severity of Solanke's ankle issue, which has been a recurring problem since the start of pre-season. The striker didn't feature on tour, but returned to play a role off the bench against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, scoring his penalty in the shootout.
He was expected to feature on the opening weekend of the season against Burnley, but the ankle injury resurfaced and has forced him to sit out of the first five games of 2025/26, including Tuesday's 1-0 victory over Villarreal in the Champions League.
Last week, Frank said he still didn't expect Solanke to be out for "too long", and we've finally received a sign that the striker is closing in on a comeback. Sky Sports were among those to report that the striker was back in "individual training" on Thursday morning, ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Brighton.
The upcoming clash will surely arrive too soon for Solanke, who hasn't yet trained fully with the group, but next week's Carabao Cup tie against Doncaster may be the perfect opportunity to offer him minutes, especially given the club's busy schedule up until the October international break.
Expect Richarlison to retain his place at the Amex despite a poor showing in midweek, and we should see Randal Kolo Muani make his Premier League debut.