Thomas Frank has confirmed that summer signing Kota Takai could be out for weeks due to a foot injury, with the Japanese defender among those who weren't included in the manager's touring squad.
Spurs' pre-season kicked off with a 2-0 win at Reading two Saturdays ago, but they head into two challenging friendlies out in the Far East off the back of a pair of draws against League One opposition at the weekend. The goalless stalemate with Luton Town was particularly bleak.
Frank has named a 29-man squad for the club's summer tour, with Takai, Destiny Udogie, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, Manor Solomon and Bryan Gil the injury-enforced absentees.
Thomas Frank confirms Kota Takai out for "weeks" with foot injury
Welcome to Tottenham Hotspur, Kota Takai 🤍 pic.twitter.com/oFa1PqYOzI
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) July 8, 2025
After touching down in Hong Kong on Monday, Frank held his first press conference of the tour alongside Micky van de Ven on Tuesday, 48 hours before we take on Arsenal in the first-ever overseas North London Derby.
The new boss was asked an array of questions, including whether he was okay with "Thomas the Frank Engine" as a nickname (he is, by the way), and reporters were keen to know on the statuses of those he left at Hotspur Way.
On Takai, Frank said: “Kota's got plantar fascia, unfortunately. I don’t know exactly the scale of it, weeks”.
It's not exactly clear when Takai picked up the issue, with the defender spotted in training on multiple occasions since joining the club at the start of the month. He hasn't appeared in any of the friendlies thus far, and his setback might mean he won't feature at all in pre-season with the start of the 2025/26 season just a couple of weeks away.
The 20-year-old isn't expected to play a major role for Frank's side this season, given Spurs' strength in depth at centre-back. However, he might've been a contender to earn a loan move away. His foot injury reduces the likelihood of a club taking him on for the upcoming season.
There will be greater concerns over the knee injury Udogie has sustained, while Dominic Solanke and Kevin Danso reportedly weren't involved in the 11-v-11 training match which took place on Tuesday evening, and finished 0-0 (lol). Solanke is still dealing with a minor ankle injury, according to Alasdair Gold. Moreover, the latest reports regarding Dejan Kulusevski's recovery aren't all that promising.
Welcome to Tottenham, Mr. Frank Engine!