Dominic Solanke sends five-word injury message before Tottenham vs Aston Villa

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke has endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines after a lingering ankle injury that first emerged during pre-season ultimately required surgery. What initially seemed like a minor setback has evolved into a lengthy recovery process that has kept the 28-year-old out of action for nearly two months.

 

Solanke was limited to just a few substitute appearances early in the campaign after missing nearly all of Spurs’ pre-season friendlies. Hopes that he might build up match fitness gradually were dashed when he was ruled out of the late-August clash against his former club, Bournemouth. His last appearance came in Tottenham’s 2–0 win over Manchester City almost eight weeks ago, and fans have been eagerly awaiting positive news on his return.

 

Head coach Thomas Frank initially sounded cautiously optimistic when discussing Solanke’s condition. However, that optimism faded last month when the club confirmed the striker had undergone a minor surgical procedure to finally address the persistent ankle problem.

“Dom’s had that ankle issue bothering him for a little while,” Frank explained at the time. “He decided to have a small procedure to fix it. We’ll have a clearer idea about his recovery timeline after the international break.”

 

Now that the international break has passed, attention has turned to Frank’s upcoming press conference, where supporters hope for a definitive update on Solanke’s recovery and potential return date.

 

In Solanke’s absence, Richarlison and Mathys Tel have shared the responsibility of leading the line. Tel, in particular, made the most of his opportunity by scoring his first goal of the season in Tottenham’s hard-fought 2–1 victory over Leeds United. Meanwhile, Randal Kolo Muani, another summer arrival, has also been sidelined for much of the same period but managed to play 45 minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week — a promising sign of progress.

 

While Frank has several attacking options at his disposal, many within the Tottenham fanbase view Solanke as the most complete striker in the squad. His ability to hold up play, press intelligently, and finish clinically has been sorely missed during his recovery.

 

The England international offered a glimpse into his mindset this week, posting an encouraging update on social media. Sharing a series of photos on Instagram — including shots from training at Hotspur Way, time spent in the United States, and even an evening at a Coldplay concert with teammate James Maddison — Solanke captioned the post, “Positivity through the dark times.”

The message appeared to reflect both his determination and his effort to stay mentally strong through a challenging period.

 

Maddison, who himself is sidelined after suffering a devastating ACL tear during pre-season, was seen alongside Solanke in some of the images, showing the camaraderie among Tottenham’s injured stars as they work their way back to full fitness.

 

Unfortunately, Solanke is not the only player currently on the treatment table. Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, and Kota Takai have all endured extended absences through injury, while Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma have recently added to Tottenham’s growing list of fitness concerns. Davies limped off during Wales’ defeat to Belgium, and Bissouma was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury just minutes after coming on for Mali.

 

Frank is expected to address the status of all three — Solanke, Davies, and Bissouma — in his media briefing later today, as Tottenham prepare for a crucial Premier League showdown against Aston Villa this Sunday.

 

With the season entering a key phase, Spurs supporters will be hoping that Solanke’s road to recovery is nearing its end — and that their first-choice striker can soon return to spearhead the team’s push for a top-four finish.