Thomas Frank has shed light on Dominic Solanke’s latest injury setback, with Tottenham desperate to have some more competition up front.
Tottenham Hotspur have had to place significant responsibility on Richarlison and Mathys Tel this season, with both Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani unavailable through injury.
Richarlison has delivered a respectable return of three goals in the Premier League, and considering he has often battled with injuries himself, his continued presence has been an unexpected boost for Frank’s side at a time when they have needed it most.
Frank would naturally have expected to rotate his forwards more frequently, yet the persistent setbacks suffered by Solanke and Muani have created a significant challenge, leaving him unable to vary his attacking options as much as he might have wished.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank provides Dominic Solanke injury update
The Tottenham head coach has now spoken about Solanke’s current situation, confirming that the striker briefly returned to training at the start of the week, only for the issue to flare up again and force him back out of sessions with the squad.
Frank clarified that the root of the problem lies in Solanke’s ankle, although he made it clear that it is not ligament-related, which will have come as some relief given the long-term consequences that might have entailed.
Speaking to football.london, Frank explained how the injury has proven difficult to manage: “I think sometimes, let us say you have got a calf sprain or hamstring or even ACL, it is very simple, very easy to deal with. Sometimes it is just a little bit more tricky. So this is a little bit more tricky without being a problem. I expect Dom back as soon as possible.”
Spurs waiting on Solanke return for much-needed striker depth
The timeline for Solanke’s return remains uncertain, as he appears to face setbacks each time he edges closer to full fitness.
There had been suggestions that surgery might be required for Solankte to resolve the recurring issue once and for all, yet Thomas Frank has dismissed that possibility, stating that everything is being done to get the forward back to full fitness.
Spurs are preparing for a Champions League fixture away to Bodo Glimt in Norway this week, before a Premier League clash with Leeds ahead of the international break, and it is still unclear whether Dominic Solanke will be fit to feature in either game.