Tottenham hopeful over key injury boost against Wolves as surprise cup absence explained

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Evening Standard

·25. September 2025

Tottenham hopeful over key injury boost against Wolves as surprise cup absence explained

Spurs’ extensive list of absentees likely to improve for Premier League return this weekend

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is hopeful that midfielder Pape Matar Sarr will return from injury for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Wolves.

The Senegal international was a surprise absentee from the Spurs squad that hosted Doncaster in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, where efforts from Joao Palhinha and Brennan Johnson either side of a Jay McGrath own goal saw off League One opponents and booked a fourth round trip to holders Newcastle.

The tie was also notable for Tottenham’s highly-rated 16-year-old academy midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett making his senior debut late on off the bench as a replacement for Mathys Tel.

However, one player missing from the squad entirely was Sarr, a regular in the Spurs engine room who had started every game across all competitions during the early stages of the new season before being left as an unused substitute for Saturday’s spirited 2-2 draw against Brighton in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old was not involved at all against Doncaster, with Frank revealing after the straightforward 3-0 victory that he had decided to be cautious with a small thigh issue that he is optimistic won’t prevent Sarr from being available for Saturday night’s visit of struggling Wolves to north London.

“Pape Matar Sarr, just a minor precaution,” Frank said. “A minor, how can you say, little stretch to the thigh so we didn’t want to take any risks today. There is a good chance that he could be ready for Saturday.”

Frank’s impressive start to life as Spurs boss since leaving Brentford to take over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou in the summer has come despite an extensive injury list that has seen the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski ruled out with longer-term issues.

The meeting with Doncaster came too soon for Deadline Day signing Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies, while Dominic Solanke and summer arrival Kota Takai have been back in training this week.

Yves Bissouma has yet to play this season and Radu Dragusin is working his way back from a long-term knee injury.