Tottenham Hotspur poised for a drastic reshuffle as injury crisis leaves up to 15 players unavailable for Borussia Dortmund clash

Thomas Frank’s battle to retain his role as Tottenham Hotspur head coach may have suffered a decisive setback.

The Danish boss could be forced to cope without as many as 15 senior players for Tuesday night’s Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund. Centre-back Micky van de Ven is suspended after picking up three yellow cards during the league phase, while Ben Davies is sidelined again after undergoing surgery on a fractured left ankle sustained in the 2–1 loss to West Ham.

João Palhinha was absent at the weekend due to a knock and did not train on Monday, and Xavi Simons appeared to be struggling at full-time, leaving the pitch with a limp. However, Simons attended the pre-match press conference alongside Frank and took part in training, suggesting he is likely to feature. Archie Gray, who was withdrawn at half-time against West Ham, also trained and remains in contention.

Pape Matar Sarr missed the West Ham defeat after being involved in Senegal’s dramatic AFCON victory over Morocco. Although he did not play in the final, the midfielder was later taken to hospital after feeling unwell during the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Yves Bissouma, Radu Drăgușin and Conor Gallagher are unavailable due to not being registered in Tottenham’s Champions League squad. UEFA regulations mean Spurs cannot amend their squad until the knockout stage, when up to three changes can be made before the February 5 deadline.

Mathys Tel is another absentee after being removed from the squad to accommodate Dominic Solanke, a decision that has reportedly left him confused and unsettled about his future in north London. Frank is also without long-term injured players Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison.

The mounting injury and suspension list comes at a difficult time for Frank, who is under increasing pressure despite being backed to remain in charge at least until the Dortmund clash. Speaking ahead of the game, he insisted he still feels supported by the club’s hierarchy, stressing that his focus remains solely on the task at hand.

Frank admitted his options are severely limited, revealing that only 11 players from the usual first-team group are available. He also confirmed Simons will be involved despite nursing the effects of a heavy challenge at the weekend.

This season marks Frank’s debut in European competition as a manager. After six league-phase matches, Spurs have recorded three wins, two draws and one defeat, collecting 11 points. That total leaves them 11th in the 36-team Champions League table, comfortably inside the play-off qualification places.