Kolo Muani to Don Mask in Arsenal Clash: Injury Update

Tottenham Hotspur's Randal Kolo Muani is set to feature in the highly anticipated North London derby against Arsenal while sporting a protective mask. The French striker sustained a fractured jaw during Spurs' recent 2-2 draw with Manchester United on November 8.

Initial reports suggested that Kolo Muani could be sidelined for up to eight weeks, and he was forced to withdraw from the France squad for their World Cup qualifiers. However, in a positive turn of events for Tottenham, surgery was deemed unnecessary, paving the way for a quicker return.

To protect his jaw, Kolo Muani has been training in a specially fitted mask. Tottenham's manager, Thomas Frank, confirmed that Kolo Muani is available for selection for the Arsenal game and will play with the mask. "Kolo Muani trained today as well. He's available, of course, he has a mask he needs to play with," Frank stated.

This news comes as a significant boost for Tottenham, who have been grappling with a lengthy injury list. Key players such as James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, and Dejan Kulusevski remain sidelined. Dominic Solanke is also still out of action following ankle surgery in August.

The availability of Kolo Muani provides Frank with much-needed options in attack. The striker's return to training and his potential inclusion in the starting lineup inject optimism into the squad ahead of the crucial match against their North London rivals.

Tottenham fans will hope Kolo Muani can emulate former Spurs striker Harry Kane, who famously scored against Arsenal while wearing a mask in 2016. Kolo Muani's presence could be a game-changer as Tottenham seeks to overcome Arsenal, who currently sit at the top of the Premier League table.

While Kolo Muani's return is a welcome development, Frank remains cautious about rushing back other injured players. Dominic Solanke, for instance, is making encouraging progress but is not yet ready for a return to competitive action. "We are very aware that when we put him out there, we want to be as sure as we can that there will be no setback going forward. I am comfortable he will soon be ready,” Frank said.

In addition to Kolo Muani, midfielders Pape Matar Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have also returned to training and are available for selection. Defenders Ben Davies and Kota Takai are also back in training, further bolstering Tottenham's squad.