Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that skipper Cristian Romero is available for selection for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
Romero had been sidelined since picking up an adductor strain during the warm-up before the club’s match with Aston Villa on October 19, but with that issue now resolved, his return injects much-needed defensive stability into Spurs’ line-up.
Frank also revealed that left-back Destiny Udogie and French forward Wilson Odobert have recovered from their respective injury setbacks and will be available for the squad against Chelsea.
This news comes at a crucial juncture for Tottenham, who currently sit third in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Arsenal but three points ahead of ninth-placed Chelsea.
They will be determined to respond following their recent exit from the League Cup, where they lost in the fourth round to holders Newcastle United.
In his pre-match press conference, Frank emphasised the significance of the fixture, the crowd, and the atmosphere at the club’s home ground. “Home game against Chelsea under the floodlights is going to be unique and special,” he said. “We need the fans behind us. Maybe the best stadium in the world and definitely the best fans in the world, and we know the sound in that stadium can be insane.”
When asked directly about the availability of Romero, Udogie, and Odobert, Frank confirmed: “Yes, positive news that Romero, Destiny, and Wilson are available for selection for the squad.”
Nevertheless, there remains a note of caution in Frank’s statement. Regarding Romero’s readiness to start, the Dane said: “I’m very aware of trying to be able to take the best possible decisions. If he was fit enough, he would have been involved Wednesday. So, he’s ready to be involved tomorrow, and let’s see how much.”
The return of Romero offers Tottenham a tactical resurgence, especially given their recent defensive issues and irregular home form. The Argentine centre-back’s leadership at the back has been missed, and with Udogie also returning on the left flank, the squad gains both experience and flexibility.
Frank even noted that Romero’s presence could open up the possibility of employing a back-five formation: “Has Cuti’s return opened up the possibility for five at the back? Yeah, I would say that to have him back, it could open up for it.”
However, while these returns are a welcome development, Tottenham remain without key attacking options. Striker Dominic Solanke, who underwent minor ankle surgery last month, is not expected to return until after the international break.
Frank commented: “We’re very aware of when we get Dom back, touch wood, we have him back and no setbacks, so we are very aware of doing it the right way.”
From the opposition side, Chelsea approach the visit to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with clear intent under manager Enzo Maresca. Frank paid tribute to Maresca’s work, saying: “He’s done an amazing job at Chelsea. So, yeah, it’s going to be a nice, good challenge, another nice, good challenge in the Premier League against a very good manager and a very good team.”
Spurs’ historical record against Chelsea adds further tension to the match. Tottenham have secured just one win in their last thirteen Premier League meetings with the Blues, a statistic that looms large ahead of this derby.