The Spurs boss brings him team to Tyneside on Wednesday night without several first-team players
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank
Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank(Image: Getty Images)
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Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has insisted he will not blame the club's injury problems as a reason for a drop-off in form, as they prepare for Wednesday night's Carabao Cup tie with Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Both clubs are dealing with the demands of Champions League football on top of the already busy domestic schedule, with this week's League Cup game coming inbetween two big Premier League and European games.
Spurs travel to Everton for this afternoon's league encounter (4.30pm) following a goalless draw in Monaco on Wednesday night, when they were somewhat lucky to escape with a point.
Frank saw his side enjoy an excellent start to the campaign, but they have now had just one victory from the last five matches.
Injuries have played a key part, with captain Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski among those currently receiving treatment.
They will all miss today's game at Everton and Frank is not expecting any returns before Wednesday's trip to League Cup, but he will not blame those absentees for any bad form.
"Every head coach wants all the players fit and we get that, then we complain about the squad being too big! And then you need to disappoint players," he said.
"Anyway, I rather want that of course. It is what it is. I very, very rarely say anything about injuries because it is what it is, I need to deal with it.
"It's my job to put the best possible available team on the pitch and get it hopefully clicking.
"Of course there's some of these, especially Kulusevski and Maddison, proven players that prove in this club for goals and assists and creating things, so they would have been lovely to be able to use, but I think we have some very talented players who are growing."
Summer signing Mohammed Kudus has hit the ground running, but £52million attacker Xavi Simons has struggled and the goals have eased off for ex-Everton forward Richarlison in recent weeks.
"Wilson (Odobert), Xavi, I think Mo has been very good for us as well and I think Richy had a good start to the season," Frank added.
"Richy tried to get up to pace, but the reality is that we are working very hard on getting the flow with the front four and hopefully it will be better bit by bit.
"I think it's fair to say, I can't remember the amount of games we played, but there have definitely been some good games and good spells where we have been looking very good, so we'll keep working on it."
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No timescale has been given for Romero and Udogie, but Frank confirmed Dominic Solanke is training individually after minor surgery on his ankle on October 1.
Frank added: "Cuti (Romero) just walked out on the grass running with some of the performance guys, so positive, progressing, no time frame, but I don't expect it to be a longer one.
"Destiny is not on the grass yet but still progressing, so again, not a longer one.
"With Dominic, it's positive, he's taking steps in the right direction every day, was on the grass again today on his own but has now a sustainable amount of pitch sessions in him on his own, so it's progressing forward."