Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is hopeful Guglielmo Vicario and Wilson Odobert will be ready to face Chelsea on Saturday, with Vicario targeting a return after a minor issue and Odobert recovering from a side strain.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is optimistic about the return of injured players Guglielmo Vicario and Wilson Odobert, who are targeting a comeback for the Premier League meeting with Chelsea on Saturday.

Vicario, who has been out with a minor issue, is expected to be ready for the Chelsea match, according to Frank. The Italian goalkeeper had been rested in the previous round against Doncaster, but Frank revealed that Vicario had a minor procedure done and will be fit for the Chelsea game.

Odobert, who came off against Monaco in the Champions League with a side issue, is also targeting a return for the Chelsea match. Frank said Odobert had a side strain that kept him out of the trip to St James’ Park, but assessments suggest he could be ready for Chelsea.

The absentee list at Spurs is now into double figures, but Frank insisted this is not a repeat of last season, when injuries derailed the club’s domestic campaign under Ange Postecoglou. “Of course, I would like to have everyone fit and available,” Frank said.

Frank emphasised that injuries are part of the game and it’s up to him to find solutions. “I think some of the ones we had are relatively, how can I say, unlucky. It’s how quick you get them back,” he added.

Other injured players include Archie Gray, who missed out with a calf strain, and Destiny Udogie, who has a knee issue. Frank revealed Gray would have started at St James’ Park had he been fit.

These comments come after the Carabao Cup tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, where Spurs lost 2-0.