Thomas Frank provides Cristian Romero injury update ahead of Everton vs Tottenham

Tottenham remain without captain Cristian Romero and several key personnel for Sunday’s trip to Everton, but Thomas Frank will not use it as an excuse.

After a superb start to life at Spurs, Frank has overseen one victory from the last five matches and a smattering of boos greeted full-time after a fortunate 0-0 draw at Monaco on Wednesday.

Recent injuries to Romero (adductor) and Destiny Udogie (knee) have halted Tottenham’s momentum and especially with the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski long-term absentees.

Yet Frank insisted: ‘Every head coach wants all the players fit and we get that, then we complain about the squad being too big! And then you need to disappoint players.

‘Anyway, I rather want that of course. It is what it is. I very, very rarely say anything about injuries because it is what it is, I need to deal with it.

‘It’s my job to put the best possible available team on the pitch and get it hopefully clicking.

‘Of course there’s some of these, especially Kulusevski and Maddison, proven players that prove in this club for goals and assists and creating things, so they would have been lovely to be able to use, but I think we have some very talented players who are growing.’

Summer recruit Mohammed Kudus immediately hit the ground running, but £52million attacker Xavi Simons has struggled and the goals have eased off for ex-Everton forward Richarlison in recent weeks.

‘Wilson (Odobert), Xavi, I think Mo has been very good for us as well and I think Richy had a good start to the season,’ Frank reflected.

‘Richy tried to get up to pace, but the reality is that we are working very hard on getting the flow with the front four and hopefully it will be better bit by bit.

‘I think it’s fair to say, I can’t remember the amount of games we played, but there have definitely been some good games and good spells where we have been looking very good, so we’ll keep working on it.’

No timescale has been given for Romero and Udogie, but Frank confirmed Dominic Solanke is training individually after minor surgery on his ankle on October 1.

Frank added: ‘Cuti (Romero) just walked out on the grass running with some of the performance guys, so positive, progressing, no time frame, but I don’t expect it to be a longer one.

‘Destiny is not on the grass yet but still progressing, so again, not a longer one.

‘With Dominic, it’s positive, he’s taking steps in the right direction every day, was on the grass again today on his own but has now a sustainable amount of pitch sessions in him on his own, so it’s progressing forward.’