Thomas Frank offers encouragement to Dominic Solanke after England snub | OneFootball

Thomas Frank is backing Dominic Solanke to still have a big impact for Tottenham this season, having been left out of the starting line-up so far due to Richarlison’s early season form.

Richarlison has started in the number nine position in Frank’s first three games and has performed brilliantly, scoring two goals in the win over Burnley and setting up Brennan Johnson’s goal in the win over Manchester City.

Even though Solanke has only featured off the bench this year, he was Tottenham’s main striker last season, scoring 16 times in all competitions for the club.

Thomas Tuchel named his England squad today and left out the striker for the second time in a row but Frank believes that Solanke will show his qualities this season.

“I think Dom is a very good striker,” he said. “I think Dominic has been, in my opinion, good for Tottenham. I know he had the injury and then had to come back and maybe he didn’t show his highest level in the end of last season, but I think they are two good strikers. And we need two good strikers.”

The next World Cup comes straight after this season and having played the little minutes he has so far this season, Solanke could find it difficult to get back into Tuchel’s squad.

“I think the World Cup is very far away right now, I think he knows that he’s a good striker, he knows that I like him. He knows there’s competition,” Frank said

“I think if he was in the team and he performed and Richy was pushing, it’s the same for both of them. I think when I speak to them, I’m pretty direct and honest in how I see the player.”

Tottenham have signed Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, Spurs’ fourth new signing of the window after Kota Takai came in from Kawasaki Frontale, Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and Joao Palhinha on loan from Bayern Munich.

Even though Takai has been injured, both Kudus and Palhinha have settled into Tottenham very quickly this season with the Ghanaian getting two assists and Palhinha scoring against Manchester City.

The Danish manager spoke about the importance of their character when it comes to signing a player.

“References are massive, I am big on it and any players signed in the past, we have done it the same way,” he said.

“Of course there are some players you are taking in that is like, OK, he’s a 10 out of 10, perfect. Others are not 10 out of 10 and that is fine but they can’t be too low, of course.”