When Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, Takai and Dragusin will be back from injury for Tottenham

Dejan Kulusevski is working hard to be back fit for Tottenham Hotspur following his knee surgery

Thomas Frank is already finding out just how difficult it is to keep Tottenham Hotspur players out of the treatment room with a string of key players out.

The Dane has only been at Spurs for a few months yet is waiting for a number of his star names to become available. He lost James Maddison to an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the final pre-season match of the summer against Newcastle in South Korea which means the midfielder will miss most of the campaign ahead.

The Spurs head coach is also awaiting the return of centre-backs Radu Dragusin and Kota Takai from injury. The Romanian suffered an ACL injury back in January during the victory against Elfsborg in the Europa League, while newcomer Takai only arrived this summer before suffering from a plantar fascia foot problem.

"I think with Bissouma, one thing for sure, he's out for the next game and then the specific timeline I'm a little bit in doubt of because I don't think it'll be that long," said the Dane. "Dragusin is on the way back and he's been running for a while. I think he should join the team in a week's time, 10 days' time, I think that's the thing, so that's positive, but of course it is an ACL.

"I'm always a little bit more, not worried but just aware that it takes time. When you've been out of football for nine months, you know, you need to get in. It's not enough to have a six-week pre-season. You need to take a little bit more time, but it's positive and and some surprise and come back quicker, of course."

There is also Dominic Solanke who continues to have issues with an ankle problem that has bothered him for most of the summer.

"He's got a minor issue with his ankle, which has been grumbling a bit, also in pre-season. It is just too much for this game. Now we have the international break, so hopefully he can be back after that," said Frank on Saturday.

Frank got a few new faces in the past week in the transfer window but he will be hoping that some of his old ones come back sooner rather than later.