The overlooked Tottenham star who might finally get his chance amid Thomas Frank’s growing injury crisis
Randal Kolo Muani’s jaw injury could hand an opportunity to two of Tottenham’s young forwards — particularly one who has struggled for game time this season.
The 26-year-old, currently on loan from PSG, was forced off at half-time during Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United after a collision with England defender Harry Maguire just 12 minutes into the match. Having only recently recovered from a dead leg sustained in training with Pape Matar Sarr, Kolo Muani’s latest setback has seen him withdraw from international duty with France. He visited a specialist in the UK on Monday, where tests confirmed a fracture to his jaw. However, surgery will not be required, and his recovery is expected to be shorter than the initially feared six to eight weeks.
The news offers some relief to Thomas Frank, who is still without Dominic Solanke as the striker continues his recovery from a persistent ankle injury. For now, Richarlison and France U21 international Mathys Tel — both scorers against United — are the only fit senior forwards available to Tottenham.
Kolo Muani’s absence could also present a rare opening for academy graduate Dane Scarlett. The 21-year-old has featured for just 10 minutes this season, coming off the bench in the Champions League victory over Copenhagen, where he impressed by winning a late penalty that Richarlison struck against the crossbar.
Across his Tottenham career, Scarlett has made 23 appearances, scoring once and providing three assists. Previous loan spells at Oxford United, Portsmouth, and Ipswich Town helped him gain valuable experience, though the club failed to secure another move for him this summer, keeping him within the first-team setup.
“I think Dane is a great player — a fantastic finisher with both feet,” said Frank. “He just needs what every young player needs: consistent minutes. The competition is strong here, and it’s difficult to guarantee him three, four, or five games in a row, but he needs to play.”
With Kolo Muani sidelined and Solanke still unavailable, Scarlett could find himself in contention for Tottenham’s upcoming fixtures — including the north London derby against Arsenal and a Champions League showdown in Paris against Kolo Muani’s parent club, PSG.
Scarlett has long been regarded as one of Spurs’ brightest prospects. Former manager José Mourinho once described him as “a diamond” with “incredible potential,” predicting he would soon become a first-team regular. Mourinho praised his intelligence and finishing ability, likening his development to that of Marcus Rashford, while Antonio Conte later called him “a brilliant prospect for Tottenham” with “a bright future ahead.”
Even after his departure, Mourinho tipped Scarlett as a future England international, saying, “Tottenham have a striker in Dane Scarlett who, if everything goes well, is going to be phenomenal.”
Despite showing glimpses of promise during his loan spells, Scarlett’s senior career has yet to fully take off. Now, with Tottenham’s attacking options stretched, he has a golden chance to reignite his progress and remind everyone why he was once considered one of the club’s most exciting young talents.
