Thomas Frank’s potential “hidden ace” that could be deployed in 2026 to rescue Tottenham’s campaign

Several key Tottenham players have spent long spells on the sidelines this season, including James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Drăgușin, Destiny Udogie, Yves Bissouma and Archie Gray. Dominic Solanke is another notable absentee.

The 28-year-old striker has managed just three appearances all campaign, totalling only 49 minutes of action. As a result, Thomas Frank has had to lean heavily on Richarlison, who has returned seven goals in 25 outings for Spurs.

Solanke’s problems began with an ankle injury that disrupted his pre-season, before he underwent what was described as “minor surgery” at the end of September in an attempt to resolve the issue. The setback has ruled the former Bournemouth forward out of leading the line for Tottenham for around four months.

After scoring 16 goals and providing eight assists in his debut season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Solanke was expected to flourish even further under Frank. However, his £65 million move has yet to gather momentum, purely due to ongoing fitness issues.

There was optimism that Solanke would be back by the end of November, but a small setback forced Frank to continue relying on Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani. Earlier this month, the Spurs head coach offered a positive update on the striker’s progress, suggesting his return is now edging closer.

Frank explained that the injury, first picked up in July, had lingered longer than expected, but stressed that the outlook is improving. He admitted the recovery had not been straightforward, yet confirmed things are now moving in a more positive direction, with Solanke close to returning to training and squad involvement.

The Tottenham boss also highlighted how valuable Solanke’s return would be, noting that having a player of his quality available would boost competition, rotation and overall squad depth. Frank made it clear he has no doubts about the striker getting back on the pitch.

With a demanding festive schedule ahead, Frank will be eager to have Solanke available as soon as possible. Given how little he has featured so far, the England international could feel like a new signing and may yet emerge as a crucial weapon for Tottenham heading into 2026, provided he can regain full fitness and stay injury-free.