Two Spurs players get some needed rest

On Thursday afternoon, as the ball began rolling for the final international break of the calendar year, there were games for plenty of Tottenham Hotspur players. However, some players got more game time than others.

Two of the players that did get very little game time, or none at all – were Pape Matar Sarr and Solanke. Let’s take a look at how things went for their sides.

Some convenient rest for two key Tottenham Hotspur players

To begin, Sarr’s Senegal side picked up another win in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, as they overcame Burkina Faso with a tight 1-0 win on the road. Senegal had already qualified for the finals, that will take place in Morocco from December 2025 until January 2026, but this win means they have won their group with a game to spare – totalling 13 points from their five games so far.

As for Sarr, he was mostly given some rest, coming on as a sub for fellow Premier League player Illiman Ndiaye of Everton with two minutes of normal time remaining, to help Senegal see the game out. Whilst the midfielder is not quite as in need of rest as others, less opportunity for him to get injured is still convenient. This was Senegal cap number 28 for Sarr.

Next up for Senegal and Sarr is their final Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, as they host Burundi on Tuesday – in what is now a dead rubber game. Kick off is 19:00 GMT.

There was even more rest for Solanke, who was an unused sub for England, who picked up a crucial 3-0 win over Greece in Athens, with the three lions needing to win by at least two goals to put their nations league destiny in their own hands. Ollie Watkins started the game, with Harry Kane a substitute.

Whilst there is no doubt the striker will have wanted to get another cap to his name, this is some much needed rest for a player who has looked pretty tired of late. A player who constantly presses and hurries players, whilst almost exclusively playing 90 minutes, as a result of a lack of a cover player in his position.

This win leaves England top of their group, with 12 points from five games – ahead of Greece thanks to the head to head tiebreaker. If England beat Ireland by any score on Sunday, they will automatically qualify to league A of the nations league, at the first time of asking. Kick off for that game is 17:00 GMT.