The clouds finally seem to be parting over North London as Tottenham Hotspur prepares for a crucial trip to Turf Moor. For a squad that has spent much of the season looking more like a medical ward than a football team, the news couldn’t come at a better time.
Manager Thomas Frank is set to receive a significant boost as five senior players return to the fold, providing much-needed depth to a lineup that has been stretched to its absolute breaking point.
To understand how vital these returns are, one only needs to look back at the club’s recent Champions League encounter with Borussia Dortmund. In that match, Frank was forced to navigate a crisis that saw thirteen first-team players sidelined.
The situation was so dire that the manager struggled to field a starting eleven comprised entirely of senior professionals. This led to several desperate and unorthodox tactical gambles. We saw Xavi Simons pushing through visible pain just to stay on the pitch, and Djed Spence, traditionally a full-back, was pushed into an unfamiliar role as a left-winger.
The strain on the squad was further highlighted in the second half of that European clash when Lucas Bergvall was forced off with an injury.
With his options exhausted, the manager was left with no choice but to hand a senior debut to 17-year-old academy product Jun’ai Byfield. While it was a proud moment for the youth system, it was a stark reminder of just how thin the first-team resources had become.
However, as the focus shifts back to the Premier League and the upcoming battle against Burnley, the landscape looks remarkably different. The most immediate boost comes in the form of Micky van de Ven.
The Dutch center-back was unavailable for the Dortmund game due to a suspension, and his return to the heart of the defense is expected to provide the stability and recovery pace that the team has sorely lacked. Having him back in the starting eleven allows the rest of the defensive unit to play with more confidence and a higher line.
Beyond Van de Ven, the squad is bolstered by a quartet of players who were ineligible for European competition but are staples of the domestic campaign. Radu Dragusin, Mathys Tel, Conor Gallagher, and Yves Bissouma are all back in contention.
Their absence on Tuesday was due to squad registration rules rather than fitness issues, meaning they should be fresh and ready to inject energy into the team. Having Gallagher and Bissouma available in the midfield is particularly crucial, as it allows Frank to rotate his central options and regain control of the tempo in the middle of the park.
| Returning Player | Reason for Absence (Dortmund) | Role in Squad |
| Micky van de Ven | Suspension | Key Starting Center-Back |
| Yves Bissouma | Not Registered in CL Squad | Defensive Midfield Anchor |
| Conor Gallagher | Not Registered in CL Squad | Box-to-Box Midfielder |
| Mathys Tel | Not Registered in CL Squad | Attacking Forward/Winger |
| Radu Dragusin | Not Registered in CL Squad | Central Defense Cover |
Despite this influx of talent, there are still a few lingering questions in the treatment room. The fans and coaching staff are anxiously awaiting an official update on Lucas Bergvall.
The young midfielder took a heavy knock following a robust challenge from Emre Can on Tuesday night, and while the club remains hopeful, his availability for the weekend remains uncertain.
Furthermore, the midfield puzzle is missing two other key pieces. Joao Palhinha remains a major doubt; the Portuguese international has already missed the matches against West Ham and Dortmund, and there is currently no firm timeline for his return.
Additionally, there is a question mark over Pape Sarr. The midfielder fell ill on the very day Senegal celebrated their African Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco. Whether he will recover his strength in time to travel to Burnley is still up in the air.
Even with these remaining uncertainties, the contrast between the Dortmund match and the upcoming Burnley fixture is night and day. Going from thirteen absences down to eight is a massive step in the right direction.
For Thomas Frank, having five extra senior heads to choose from doesn’t just make his team stronger; it allows him to return to a more natural tactical setup. The “unorthodox” experiments can be put to rest as Spurs look to secure a vital three points and continue their climb up the table.
