Tottenham confirm major change to Champions League squad ahead of Borussia Dortmund clash | OneFootball

Thomas Frank makes key swap in fresh blow for Tottenham youngster

Solanke was initially named in Spurs’ 25-man group for the league phase of the competition in September, but his spot was taken Tel - the most high-profile omission from the original squad - last month before the win over Slavia Prague as he continued to recover from an ankle injury.

Tottenham then had until Monday evening to decide whether to bring Solanke back into the group with the striker now recovered from the aforementioned ankle problem.

It has since been confirmed that Tel has dropped out of Spurs’ Champions League squad and Thomas Frank said at his pre-Dortmund press conference on Monday that it was a tough decision to make.

“That was not a nice decision to have to make, unfortunately that's football, so you have to make a decision,” Frank revealed.

“The only way the rules are, the only option was either Dom or Mathys in the squad, and I chose Dom because I think Mathys has done very well the last couple of games, and that's the crazy thing, if I could pick from all the players that he's fit, he would start tomorrow.

“But I can only pick between the two of them, and now he's out of the squad, so that's a tough one to take for Mathys."

Fresh blow: Mathys Tel

Getty Images

This decision is a further blow to Tel, who was withdrawn midway through the second half for Solanke against West Ham at the weekend and was visibly annoyed with Frank as he took his place on the bench.

The Frenchman joins a long list of Spurs players unavailable for the Dortmund clash as Micky van de Ven (suspension) and new signing Conor Gallagher (ineligible) are among those ruled out.