Tottenham could face one of their own when Doncaster Rovers visit N17 in the Carabao Cup, with an unusual twist set to take centre stage under the lights.
The Carabao Cup returns this midweek, and Tottenham Hotspur will be hoping to give a strong account of themselves in the competition, having managed to reach the semi-final last time out.
Awaiting them in round three is League One outfit Doncaster Rovers, who will be making the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with hopes of pulling off a shock result.
This competition also offers Thomas Frank the chance to claim a first piece of silverware as Tottenham boss, which would equally mark the first major trophy of his managerial career, so there is every reason to expect that Frank will treat the Carabao Cup tie with the seriousness it deserves.
Tottenham allow Damola Ajayi to feature for Doncaster
Tottenham are also set to welcome back a familiar face to N17 on Wednesday night, as Damola Ajayi prepares to line up against his parent club.
The 19-year-old forward joined Doncaster on loan in the summer, having shown glimpses of his talent in pre-season when he scored four goals for the League One side.
It is an unusual situation given Tottenham’s option to block the appearance of their own player, but in this case, the club have decided otherwise.
Speaking to the club’s official channel on the decision to allow Ajayi to play, Frank explained that the move was ultimately about development.
He said, “We decided to loan him out because it is good for his development. We were not that lucky to face one of our own players. It is a great opportunity for him.”
Ajayi’s challenge at Doncaster
Ajayi is remembered by Spurs fans for opening his account with the club in last season’s Europa League victory against Elfsborg, a moment that showcased his potential as a natural goal scorer.
However, life at Doncaster has been slower to catch fire, as he has only managed 131 minutes of football so far this season.
The youngster is yet to score a competitive goal and has not started back-to-back matches, which underlines how much he still needs to prove in League One before pushing for a place back at Tottenham.
This Carabao Cup clash offers him a chance to make an impression, but it also leaves Tottenham supporters with mixed emotions, knowing one of their own could be the player to cause them problems in a competition they would want to win.