Thomas Frank has recognized that Tottenham is “desperate” for a home victory against Newcastle this Tuesday, though he admitted uncertainty regarding the availability of Dejan Kulusevski for the rest of the season.
As Spurs head into the midweek match, they find themselves in 15th place, only six points clear of the relegation zone, following a dismal run of just two wins in their last 16 Premier League games.
While repeatedly questioned about relegation on Monday, Frank refrained from confirming if Tottenham is in a survival struggle but acknowledged their urgent desire to secure a first domestic win of 2026.
“There’s no doubt we are desperate to win games. Desperate,” Frank emphasized.
“My focus is solely on Newcastle tomorrow. It’s an excellent opportunity against a strong team. The primary goal is to go out there and secure three points, which would be a significant boost as we look to climb the table and move forward.”
Tottenham will be missing several players, including Kulusevski, who has been sidelined since May due to a severe knee injury.
Kulusevski recently received an injection to alleviate knee pain, but after not being included in Tottenham’s Champions League knockout stage squad, Frank could not offer a hopeful update on the Swedish midfielder.
When asked if Kulusevski would play this season, Frank admitted: “I don’t know.”
“Deki has another appointment at the end of this week, which should provide more clarity, but being left out of the Champions League squad indicates that he’s not ready yet.”
Destiny Udogie just joined the injury list after suffering a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat against Manchester United last Saturday.
“Unfortunately, Destiny has a hamstring injury, and he will be out for the next four to five weeks,” Frank revealed.
Djed Spence is set to return at a crucial moment, but captain Cristian Romero will commence a four-match suspension due to his red card at Old Trafford.
“I believe we’ve discussed Romero enough in the last press conference,” Frank noted.
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“He’s a young leader, and he learns every day. I remember thinking I had it all figured out at 30, but my understanding of leadership has grown significantly since then.”
“When you have passionate and aggressive players, incidents like this can occasionally occur. However, he certainly needs to learn from it.”
Frank also called on frustrated Tottenham fans to rally behind the team ahead of this important match for both clubs, particularly with Newcastle managing to win only once in their last eight games.
“We truly need their support,” Frank added. “When the team is somewhat depleted, with limited players and a lack of confidence, uniting together is crucial.”