The positive Tottenham fans can take from Thomas Frank snubbing Pape Sarr

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Thomas Frank continued his peculiar treatment of Pape Sarr as Tottenham faced Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.

The Senegal international was a key man under the Dane at the start of the season, playing 90 minutes in the UEFA Super Cup against PSG and a further 90 minutes in three of Tottenham’s opening four Premier League games.

However, since being left on the bench for the 2-2 draw at Brighton in September, the Spurs No.29 has only been given 12, 17 and four minutes respectively in the last three Premier League outings.

Thomas Frank snubbed Pape Sarr once again when naming his lineup for the UEFA Champions League clash against Monaco – frustrating Tottenham fans on social media in doing so – but there is one positive they can take from the situation.

Spurs will need to get used to coping without Pape Sarr

While it is admittedly odd to see Sarr left out lately – despite being heavily involved at the start of the season – Tottenham do need to get used to life without the man born in Thiaroye.

The 23-year-old is set to jet off to the Africa Cup of Nations this winter, with the tournament starting on 21st December and ending on 18th January.

Given the fact Senegal can boast the likes of Sarr, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy, many expect them to go all the way.

Should that happen, it would see Sarr miss seven games for Tottenham, as well as the FA Cup third round (draw yet to take place) and a potential Carabao Cup game if Spurs progress.

• Tottenham vs Liverpool (20th December)
• Crystal Palace vs Tottenham (27th December)
• Brentford vs Tottenham (30th December)
• Tottenham vs Sunderland (3rd January)
• Bournemouth vs Tottenham (7th January)
• Tottenham vs West Ham (17th January)
• Tottenham vs Borussia Dortmund (20th January)

We appreciate the games against Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund do not fall between the 21st December and the 18th January, although Sarr – who has impressed Ally McCoist – is likely to miss these encounters as he travels to and from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Thomas Frank might just be taking a very cautious approach over Pape Sarr

Sarr did miss the 3-0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster back on 24th September due to a thigh issue Frank described as a “minor” problem.

The 52-year-old said: “It was a minor precaution. A minor, how can you say… a little stretch to the thigh, so we didn’t want to take any risks today. There is a good chance that he could be ready for Saturday (the 1-1 draw against Wolves).”

Sarr did actually start the 2-2 draw against Bodo/Glimt on 30th September, playing 69 minutes, so it is possible that a setback occurred in that match and Tottenham are just easing him back into action, but that is merely speculation.

TBR Football understand Frank is a fan of Sarr – so it feels unlikely that anything serious has happened behind the scenes for the pair to have fallen out, especially as he ended up coming on in the 60th minute against Monaco.