Tottenham’s Randal Kolo Muani eyes Premier League debut

LONDON – Despite a good start to the English Premier League season, Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has to deal with injury issues ahead of the home clash with Aston Villa on Oct 19.

Forward Randal Kolo Muani is in contention for his Premier League debut, but an ankle injury has sidelined Yves Bissouma for weeks, Frank said on Oct 17.

Kolo Muani, who joined Spurs on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in September, has missed the last five games with a “dead leg”, while Bissouma suffered an ankle ligament problem playing for Mali in October’s World Cup qualifiers.

“Kolo Muani has trained now for two weeks with the team, so that’s good. He looks better and better. He will be in contention for the squad,” said Frank.

“Biss unfortunately had a situation with the national team. I think everyone saw that, unfortunately, so he got a ligament injury to his ankle. That’ll keep him out for weeks.”

Striker Dominic Solanke is also still sidelined with an ankle issue, having had minor surgery in September.

“Dom has progressed well after the surgery. (He has) been on the pitch... he’s progressing and he’s going forward, so that’s good,” Frank added.

Tottenham are without seven injured players, including Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai.

The Europa League winners are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions and were third in the Premier League table on 14 points coming into this weekend.

Villa have nine points from seven games.

However, former Brentford manager Frank has failed to beat Unai Emery’s Villa in five league matches against them, suffering three losses.

“What Unai has done in his career is amazing, what he’s created at Villa is fantastic. They almost qualified for the Champions League again,” Frank said. “I'm looking forward to it.”

Emery, meanwhile, has said that it is a “huge challenge” to face Spurs, especially with his side languishing below mid-table.

“Premier League, every match we are facing is being very difficult, and of course Tottenham is one of the contender teams to be in the top seven,” he said.

“Last year they didn’t achieve it, but of course this year they are really playing fantastic, getting good results.

“They are now in the top with 14 points and, playing at home, they are feeling strong.

“For us, it’s really a huge challenge. How we can face them, showing our capacity and how we are playing against them as a team, individually how we are responding, this is my challenge.”

The Spaniard also had high praise for Frank.

“For them was so, so important to achieve the Champions League. (Ange) Postecoglou, he got it as a coach,” he said.

“And now with Thomas Frank, this season he is starting very, very motivated because through Champions League they are adding another competition in Europe, the most important.

“I think now, the coach is of course doing very good work like he did when he was in Brentford and he deserved to get something more.” REUTERS