Solanke Set for Tottenham Return in Bayern Friendly Amid Injury Concerns | OneFootball

Tottenham Look to Bayern Test as Solanke Nears Return

Solanke offers timely boost to Tottenham attack

Tottenham’s preparations for their final pre-season outing have been punctuated by a rare sense of clarity — and chaos. Clarity in that manager Frank now has the skeleton of a side resembling his UEFA Super Cup XI. Chaos because, in typical pre-season fashion, the deck is being shuffled by injuries, exits and the natural churn of summer football.

Dominic Solanke, whose ankle injury in a July friendly against Reading looked like it might linger, is expected to return to action as Spurs travel to Munich to face Bayern. “He should be fit,” Frank stated last week, and the striker’s return could not come at a better time. With Son Heung-Min’s emotional farewell and move to LAFC, and Richarlison struggling for form, Solanke may find himself thrust into the spotlight — albeit cautiously. His minutes are likely to be managed to prevent a setback.

No Maddison — but opportunities emerge

Spurs will be without James Maddison after the midfielder suffered a fresh knee injury in the 1-1 draw with Newcastle. Lucas Bergvall, who impressed against Arsenal in Hong Kong, is expected to reprise his role as the creative fulcrum at No10. Meanwhile, Mohamed Kudus continues to impress in his early days in north London and should start on the right flank.

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Mathys Tel, once of Bayern, is in line for a start against his former club, stepping in for Wilson Odobert. Tel’s inclusion adds narrative interest to a friendly that already offers plenty of talking points for both sets of fans.

Midfield auditions continue in Munich

With the Super Cup on the horizon, Frank appears to be experimenting with combinations rather than consolidating them. Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur have looked solid as a double pivot this summer, but Thursday’s friendly could see Archie Gray partnered with the Senegalese midfielder. New signing Joao Palhinha is expected to feature from the bench after arriving on Sunday, but a starting role seems unlikely.

Defensive continuity, attacking questions

Pedro Porro and Cristian Romero remain nailed-on starters on the right-hand side of defence. On the left, Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven seem to have edged ahead, particularly after a clean sheet against Arsenal.

Spurs may still be in experimental mode, but there is a growing sense that this Bayern fixture could provide the final clues to Frank’s European blueprint.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Gray; Tel, Bergvall, Kudus; SolankeInjured: Maddison, Kulusevski, Udogie, Dragusin, Takai, Solomon, GilKick-off: 5.30pm BST, Thursday 7 August 2025Venue: Allianz Arena, MunichHow to watch: SPURSPLAY