Thomas Frank faces a worrying injury situation ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League trip to Monaco, with several key players missing from training.
Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, and Ben Davies were all absent from Tuesday’s session at Hotspur Way, casting serious doubt over their availability for Wednesday’s clash at Stade Louis II.
The timing is far from ideal as Spurs look to continue their promising European form following a 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt and a strong win over Villarreal.
Romero, the team captain, was forced to withdraw during the warm-up before Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa due to an adductor problem.
The Argentine defender’s absence was a big blow, and while the issue is not believed to be serious, his participation against Monaco remains uncertain. Udogie, meanwhile, has been struggling with slight irritation in his knee following his return from international duty.
Although his condition isn’t severe, Tottenham are taking no risks and could choose to rest him to avoid further complications.
Ben Davies also failed to train and joins a growing list of absentees, meaning Tottenham could be without as many as ten senior players for the midweek fixture. Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke are all sidelined through injury.
In addition, Kota Takai and Mathys Tel remain unavailable for selection, having not been registered in the club’s Champions League squad.
When asked about Romero’s availability, Frank offered little clarity, admitting he was unsure whether the defender would recover in time. “I don’t know. He could be, he couldn’t. I just don’t know,” he said after Sunday’s defeat.
“Right now, if I’m honest, I had one focus. I went into the changing room, spoke to the players, prepared for questions, and I’ll worry about the players tomorrow.” His comments reflect the uncertainty hanging over Tottenham’s preparations for a crucial away match.
Amid the injury concerns, Tottenham have also confirmed the appointment of Dan Lewindon as the club’s new performance director. Lewindon joins from the City Football Group, where he was serving his notice period.
He will oversee the club’s medical, sports science, nutrition, and psychology departments across the men’s, women’s, and academy teams.
Tottenham’s co-sporting director Johan Lange expressed his excitement about the appointment, saying, “We are delighted that Dan will be joining us as performance director.
He was the standout candidate and brings a wealth of experience across elite sports. His strong academic background and expertise will be hugely beneficial as we drive this area of the club forward with innovative thinking.”
Despite the challenges, Spurs will hope their depth and resilience can see them through in Monaco.
The trip comes at a difficult moment, but Frank’s side have shown determination before, and they’ll need every bit of it as they look to continue their European campaign.
