Tottenham Hotspur fans received a slight scare during their pre-season preparations, but new boss Thomas Frank has moved swiftly to allay any fears regarding the fitness of key players Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie. With the Super Cup clash against Paris St Germain looming on August 13, the absence of both players from the friendly against Luton Town raised concerns.
Solanke, the England forward, was sidelined due to a minor ankle injury, while Udogie, the left-back, was withdrawn before kick-off. Both players were initially slated to participate in the pre-season friendly at Luton. However, Frank has downplayed the severity of these issues, emphasizing that the decisions were precautionary.
"Dom has a minor ankle issue, nothing we're worried about, just a precaution," Frank stated. "Destiny felt something in the warm up, so, again, just a precaution. We just want to be on top of that".
Despite missing the Luton match, both Solanke and Udogie are expected to join the rest of the squad on their pre-season tour of Asia, set to commence on Sunday. This will come as a relief to Spurs fans, who are eager to see their team in action ahead of the new season. Tottenham are scheduled to face North London rivals Arsenal and Newcastle during their pre-season tour in Asia.
The absence of Solanke from the Luton friendly follows his appearance in the 2-0 victory over Reading, which marked a positive start to Thomas Frank's tenure as Tottenham manager. The club will be hoping that Solanke's ankle issue is indeed minor, as they prepare for the pre-season tour and the Super Cup. A statement released by the club confirmed that Solanke was left out of the Luton match as a precaution due to a minor ankle injury.
Udogie's withdrawal, while also precautionary, highlights the importance of managing player fitness during pre-season. The left-back position has been a source of concern for Spurs in the past, and Udogie's presence is vital to the team's balance.
Frank utilized two different starting lineups for the two friendlies on Saturday, with Son Heung-min featuring in the earlier match against Wycombe. Son's future at the club has been subject to speculation, with interest from MLS side Los Angeles FC, but Tottenham are yet to receive an official bid.
These minor injury concerns come amidst a backdrop of Tottenham's efforts to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. Frank is keen on adding more attacking options to support Solanke, with Brentford attacker Yoane Wissa reportedly a target.
While the absence of Solanke and Udogie from the Luton friendly was initially worrying, Thomas Frank's reassuring words and the expectation that both will join the pre-season tour should ease the concerns of Tottenham supporters. The focus remains on ensuring the squad is fully fit and prepared for the challenges of the upcoming season, including the Super Cup against PSG.
