Tottenham Hotspur’s injury concerns have deepened after manager Thomas Frank confirmed that Dominic Solanke has undergone surgery on his ankle. The striker has been struggling with the problem since pre-season and has not played for Spurs since their 2-0 victory over Manchester City in August.
Solanke featured in that game only briefly, replacing Richarlison for the final 12 minutes. His appearances before that had also been limited, with late substitute roles against Burnley and City in Tottenham’s opening two Premier League matches of the season. The ankle knock, which he picked up during pre-season training, also forced him to miss the UEFA Super Cup clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
Although Solanke returned to training earlier this month and raised hopes of a comeback, Frank revealed that the medical team and player agreed on surgery to settle the problem once and for all. Speaking to reporters, the Spurs boss said: “Dom we know got that ankle issue that’s been bothering him for a little while. Decided to have minor surgery. Small procedure. More news about time frame after the international break.”
The timing of Solanke’s setback is another blow to Tottenham, who are already managing an extensive list of injuries. Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski have been sidelined since last season, while James Maddison suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury during a pre-season match in August. Maddison’s absence in particular has left a significant gap in midfield creativity, while Solanke’s unavailability now reduces Frank’s options in attack.
For Spurs, the focus now turns to Solanke’s recovery timeline, which is expected to become clearer after the international break. Until then, Frank will be forced to rely heavily on the fit members of his squad as the club tries to keep momentum in the early part of the campaign.
