Phil McNulty Q&A on Guardiola, West Ham and more; plus injury and team news updates

Summary

Carabao Cup news conferences: Guardiola on Haaland's fitness, Frank on Kulusevski & Solanke, Howe on Wissa plus Madueke may not return until north London derby
The third round sees eight fixtures on Tuesday including Liverpool v Southampton and Lincoln City v Chelsea, with Brentford, Palace, Grimsby & Swansea already through - when is the Carabao Cup fourth round draw?
Phil McNulty Q&A taking place - get your questions in
Phil's views on the 'subjectivity of the Ballon d'Or' but Dembele a 'worthy winner' | West Ham's problems | Spurs' strikers | Sterling in exile? | On Guardiola's approach
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

Get your questions in to Phil McNulty

Live Reporting

Written by Craig Nelson, Ben Ramsdale, Grace Wheeler and Mel Edwards.

Show

Kolo Muani and Davies out, Solanke and Takai both trainedpublished at 14:39 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank on the availability of Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies for tomorrow: "They will both not be available for selection. It is minor injuries for both of them but it is just too short of a turnaround for both of them."
And on Dominic Solanke and Kota Takai: "They are progressing. They both trained with the team today."
Image source, Getty Images
'If we get to the final you can ask me that then'published at 14:35 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank was asked what it would mean personally to win the Carabao Cup: "Of course I would like to win, there is no doubt about that. For me, we need to take one game at a time. We need to get past Doncaster tomorrow and the next game and the next game. Then if we get to the final you can ask me that question then."
Image source, Getty Images
get involved
Get Involved - 'First time in years I am excited for every game'published at 14:34 BST 23 September
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

As a huge Spurs fan, this is the first time in years that I am excited for every game. THANK YOU THOMAS.
Bazza
'We play to win'published at 14:31 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank on his approach for the game tomorrow: "I don't know any coach or manager or player that doesn't want to compete and try to win. Going into the Carabao Cup tomorrow we are really looking forward to it and will do everything we can to try and win it. We play for that.
"There will be some rotation but there should be, with all respect to Doncaster. They have Grant McCann who I know very well and he is a very good guy and his team we need to respect, but we need to play to our highest level and get to the next round."
'Hopefully Kulusevski is not too far away'published at 14:27 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank on team news: "It looks good. Everyone available last time is available again."
On Dejan Kulusevski's recovery: "Of course Kulusevski is a top player, I have always liked him when I saw him from afar. He is a key player for us and a key player for me. Instead of putting an exact month, I just want him back as soon as possible. It's not tomorrow but hopefully it's not too far away."
Image source, Getty Images
'I want to win - no doubt about that'published at 14:26 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank said of course he wants to win the Carabao Cup - "no doubt about that".
He added that Doncaster are a team they need to respect and his side will need to play at a high level to make it through.
More to follow.
Postpublished at 14:23 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Here we go, as mentioned, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank says every player is available as was available last time and the squad looks good.
More to follow.
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 14:22 BST 23 September
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say

I expect Spurs will change the whole 11 tomorrow…to give players some minutes is the usual ploy. I know they have reduced ticket prices to £30 all round for this game. Yes maybe bigger games ahead. But as fans we all want to have a good go at winning anything.
Terry
Same players available?published at 14:19 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

We are hearing early murmurings that Thomas Frank has said that all the same Tottenham players are available as were for the last game.
The Spurs boss said Dominic Solanke was not available for Saturday's 2-2 draw at Brighton, so that would rule out the England striker from Wednesday's EFL Cup tie at home to Doncaster Rovers.
More to follow.
Will Solanke be fit for Spurs?published at 14:11 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster Rovers (Wed, 19:45 BST)

Image source, Getty Images
Unless Thomas Frank says otherwise in today's news conference, it looks likely that Dominic Solanke will get his first minutes against Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday since the middle of August.
Speaking before Tottenham's Premier League game with Brighton last weekend, Frank confirmed that Solanke had been back out on the grass for three or four days however would remain out for the match against the Seagulls.
With a week of training now under his belt, Wednesday would appear the perfect opportunity to ease him back in.
Spurs' recent Carabao Cup historypublished at 14:06 BST 23 September
Tottenham Hotspur

Since lifting the Carabao Cup in 2007-08, Tottenham Hotspur's luck in the competition has been pretty miserable.
Three defeats in finals, along with three defeats in semi-finals have made it a pretty heart-breaking tournament for Spurs.
Tottenham last reached the final in 2020-21 and were led out by interim manager Ryan Mason after Jose Mourinho was sacked less than week before the game was due to take place. They ultimately lost out 1-0 to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
They were one step away from another final appearance last season. After taking a 1-0 first leg lead over Liverpool in the semi-final, Spurs went on to lose the second leg 4-0 and the semi-final as a whole, 4-1 on aggregate.
Image source, Getty Images
Spurs now have a taste for silverwarepublished at 14:01 BST 23 September
Tottenham Hotspur

Until last season, Tottenham's 2008 League Cup success was their sole piece of silverware in the 21st Century.
All that changed in May, when Ange Postecoglou led the club to a famous win over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
That sealed Champions League qualification and opened the door to all of the riches Europe's top-flight competition brings with it.
But the club has a taste for silverware now, and the Carabao Cup represents their first - and potentially their best - chance to bolster their trophy cabinet further this season.
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Tottenham fans take pictures next to Uefa trophies before the Super Cup final in Udine
So far, so good under Frank?published at 13:58 BST 23 September
Tottenham v Doncaster (Wed, 19:45 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham set the tone for life under Thomas Frank with a promising start against European champions Paris St-Germain in the Uefa Super Cup.
They blew Luis Enrique's talented side away in the opening stages, only to be pegged back with two late goals and then lose on penalties.
Any fears that Spurs may have a soft under-belly under Frank have since been set to one side.
They have kicked on with three wins and a draw from their opening five league matches and sit third in the fledgling Premier League table.
Tottenham also got off to a winning start in the Champions League at home to Villarreal, so is it a case of 'so far, so good' under Frank?
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 13:57 BST 23 September
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Phil McNulty has handily led us to Tottenham.
Manager Thomas Frank is about to hold a news conference to preview Wednesday's third-round Carabao Cup tie at home to League One side Doncaster Rovers...
'Muani's time will come'published at 13:55 BST 23 September
Q&A with Phil
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images
Tim: Hi Phil, as a Spurs fan, I'm a little worried about Randal Kolo Muani's lack of starts so far. Why do you think Frank prefers Richarlison despite his form in previous seasons?
Hello, Tim. It’s early days and I’m sure Thomas Frank is monitoring this carefully. Richarlison has also made a decent start to the season, so Frank clearly feels he is the better option so far. He is going on current form not past seasons. I’m sure Muani’s time will come.
Chelsea keeper Sanchez 'my big concern'published at 13:48 BST 23 September
Q&A with Phil
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images
David: Hi Phil - what do you think these last three results have told us about Chelsea this season? Personally, I don't think the shortcomings in defence that have been addressed since Thiago Silva left, and they'll struggle for top four the way things are currently.
Hello, David. My own personal worry about Chelsea is that I do not think their goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez, is good enough for a team with title ambitions.
I do agree they miss that dominant central defender, but their keeper would be my big concern, as proved at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
'I've seen nothing to suggest Wolves won't be relegated'published at 13:44 BST 23 September
Q&A with Phil
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images
Max: Question for Phil, from a Wolves fan - are we going down?
Hi, Max. I’m afraid I picked Wolves to be relegated before the start of the season and I’ve seen nothing yet to suggest I will be wrong – although I never wish relegation on any club.
'I would pick Jordan Pickford every time'published at 13:38 BST 23 September
Q&A with Phil
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images
Paul: Do you subscribe to playing your second keeper in the Carabao Cup matches? I'm thinking Travers at Everton over Pickford?
Hi, Paul. If I was Everton manager David Moyes I would absolutely not pick my second keeper in the Carabao Cup. I would pick Jordan Pickford every time.
This is not to denigrate Mark Travers, but this is a competition Everton should absolutely be setting their sights on. If the cards and the draw falls right they have a chance of winning it.They have an outstanding keeper in Jordan Pickford, so they should select him every time.
'Time will tell' for Amorimpublished at 13:35 BST 23 September
Q&A with Phil
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, Getty Images
Mick: Pep Guardiola abandons his principles in favour of pragmatism, while Ruben Amorim persists with his playing style at the expense of results. So what does the Manchester United manager need to do in order to be successful? a) abandon his principles b) stick to his guns c) get another job?
Afternoon, Mick. My own answer would be to use a system that suits his players, rather than his current one which results suggest does not.
The best managers adapt to players, situations and results and yet Amorim refuses, even saying The Pope could not get him to change his approach.
Time (and results) will tell if this is the correct strategy.
Postpublished at 13:32 BST 23 September
Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

Right, let's park the Carabao Cup for the time being and get back to Phil McNulty, who has been busy working behind the scenes, answering your football-related questions...