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Frank will be pleased to get a player back | Getty Images
Thomas Frank has provided a Tottenham injury update ahead of facing Aston Villa.
Thomas Frank has confirmed a Tottenham injury boost ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa. Spurs return from the international break in third place, enjoying a very solid start to the season under new boss Frank.
This weekend they face a Villa side that has struggled to hit the ground running this season after some impressive campaigns under Unai Emery, but they have won their last four across all competitions, suggesting they are now finding some rhythm.
Tottenham have done pretty well on the injury front this season, especially compared to last season, but they have had some absentees, as is always the case during any given season. One of them has been striker Kolo Randal Muani, who has been out for a few weeks, but the loanee is now back available.
“Kolo Muani has trained now for two weeks with the team, so that's good,” Frank said. “He looks better and better. He will be in contention for tomorrow, so that's positive.
“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.”
Elsewhere, Dominic Solanke remains out after having surgery, and Frank added: “Dom's progressed well after the surgery, been on the pitch, he's progressing and he's going forward, so that's good. Biss (Yves Bissouma), 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.”
Asked when Solanke can return, Frank continued: “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.”
Tottenham now enter an important run of games that will see them face Villa and Everton in the league, AS Monaco in the Champions League and Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.
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