Tottenham XI vs Manchester United: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Thomas Frank has one key returnee to call upon

Thomas Frank has been boosted by the return of Micky van de Ven ahead of Saturday’s game away to Manchester United.

Van de Ven has missed Spurs’ last two games against Frankfurt and Manchester City, but returns to the side with Frank in the midst of a defensive injury crisis.

Fellow centre-back, Kevin Danso, remains on the sidelines after hyper-extending his toe ahead of last weekend’s dramatic 2-2 draw with City.

Djed Spence, meanwhile, is closing in on a return from a calf injury, with Frank admitting he could be in contention against United.

“So Micky is good, [he] trained today,” the Spurs boss told reporters on Thursday. “He is available for selection for Saturday.

“So it's good. Djed Spence is getting closer. It will be a little bit touch-and-go, but there is a good chance that he will be ready."

With Danso and potentially Spence out, Spurs’ injury list is into double figures, but Frank has been boosted by the news that captain Cristian Romero has overcome the bout of illness that saw him withdrawn at half-time against City.

Romero and Van de Ven will likely line up together for the first time since the central defensive pairing each scored to rescue a stoppage-time draw away to Burnley.

Dominic Solanke is also available despite rolling his ankle in the closing stages against City. The England striker scored twice as Spurs came from two goals down to draw with Pep Guardiola’s side last weekend.

Radu Dragusin made his first start in 12 months after returning from an anterior cruciate ligament injury against City and could retain his place in the side should Frank stick with a three-man defence.

The return of Van de Ven does, however, leave Frank with a decision to make after a couple of impressive performances from Joao Palhinha in a hybrid auxiliary centre-back role.

The Portuguese midfielder has looked assured in possession and aggressive in the tackle, completing the most tackles of any player against Frankfurt and City.

Dragusin, by contrast, looked shaky in the first half against City, gifting the visitors possession for Antoine Semenyo’s goal, before improving after the break.

Frank could also be tempted to make changes in attack after leaving Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel on the bench against City.

Odobert and Tel have been among Spurs’ brightest performers in what has been a difficult period for the club, and the former could come in for the ineffectual Randal Kolo Muani on the right wing.

Tottenham predicted XI (3-4-3): Vicario; Palhinha, Romero, Van de Ven; Spence, Gray, Gallagher, Udogie; Odobert, Solanke, Simons

Injured: Maddison, Kulusevski, Bentancur, Kudus, Richarlison, Davies, Porro, Bergvall, Danso

Doubts: Spence

Date and time: 12:30pm GMT on Saturday, February 7, 2026

Venue: Old Trafford