Spurs news: Thomas Frank issues injury latest on Tottenham star amid Champions League change | OneFootball

England striker has been nursing an ankle injury all season

Thomas Frank insisted there has been no setback with Dominic Solanke's recovery from injury.

The Frenchman came in ahead of the match at home to Slavia Prague on Tuesday night. Spurs won it 3-0, taking the lead through an own goal before Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons added penalties.

As Solanke has been out for 60 days, UEFA rules allowed Spurs to temporarily drop him from their league-phase squad.

He could still potentially come back in to replace Tel for the fixtures against Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt in January.

Asked why Tottenham had now made the decision to bring Tel in for Solanke, Frank replied: "Because as I understand it, it's something with 60 days.

"An injured player needs to be injured for 60 days, relatively complicated, so it's not like I could have done it three games ago.

"Plus it's also depending on how long will Dom be out and so on. So that's why there was an opening now, that we could do it and we can change it again, so that was good."

Frank insisted the decision was not an indication that there had been a setback for Solanke.

"No," he said.

"It was just an opportunity to get Tel in, which is nice to have that opportunity. And we can change back if we want to do that."

Solanke is yet to start a competitive match under Frank, coming off the bench in the first two Premier League games and not playing a single minute since then.

Spurs' final match of the league phase is against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 28. Frank did not confirm whether Solanke would be back and available before then.

"I think I've said before that as soon as he's ready and available, then I will say when he's ready," he said.