Xavi Simons ‘going in right direction’ with Tottenham – Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank has preached patience with Tottenham’s £52million signing Xavi Simons ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture away to Monaco.

Xavi has played eight times for Spurs since he joined from RB Leipzig on August 29 and only produced one assist, on his debut at West Ham.

The Netherlands international was withdrawn after Tottenham went behind in a 2-1 loss at home to Aston Villa on Sunday but Frank rallied around the 22-year-old after a comparison to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.

“I think that’s a very good question and also a very good comparison with Wirtz, who is also a very good player just like Xavi,” insisted Frank, who is without captain Cristian Romero in Monaco due to an ongoing adductor issue.

“A couple of things, new country, new club, new city and just needing to settle in. We are all getting judged every game but we also need to see the bigger perspective and I see it all the time.

“I always look for glimpses and bits and pieces. For example with Xavi, there were some good bits and I worked with him and I asked him to arrive a bit more in the box. When I looked at the game back, he did.

“Was there a big eye-catching moment? No, but there were good glimpses and I think it is constantly going in the right direction.”

The arrival of playmaker Xavi has reduced the game-time of Brennan Johnson.

Johnson scored Spurs’ winning goal in the Europa League final and started the campaign with strikes against Burnley and Manchester City, but was given a matter of minutes in recent matches with Leeds and Villa.

“Important goal last season, also the top scorer I think in the club last year,” said Frank. “He also started the season well. He has scored two good goals.

“Brennan has trained very well the last couple of weeks, scoring goals in training, which is important to keep showing that I’m not taking the right decision if he’s not in the team.

“It’s just a little bit of competition. Brennan just needs to keep going. He will get his games.”

Captain Romero, Ben Davies and Destiny Udogie have not travelled to Monaco which means Spurs are without 10 players, with Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke not fit whilst Kota Takai and Mathys Tel are ineligible.

Asked if fans should be concerned about Romero, Frank claimed: “No, I don’t think so. It is an adductor strain. We will assess him this week and then we’ll know more.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Danso issued a public apology to Aston Villa defender Lucas Digne after he accidentally caught his ankle with the follow-through of a clearance on Sunday.

“I apologised to him while he was on the floor because I felt that I did catch him, but I clearly cleared the ball,” Danso admitted.

“I saw the picture of his ankle and I didn’t have a chance after the game, but I apologised on the pitch. I would like to apologise to him publicly as well.”