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Tottenham urged to start 20-year-old attacker vs Aston Villa; Will Thomas Frank show faith?

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 3:06 PM ET

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank advised to start Wilson Odobert vs Aston Villa on Sunday

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Sunday as they welcome Aston Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Lilywhites bounced back to winning ways before the international by beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road, thanks to goals from Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus. They will want to make it back-to-back wins in the Premier League and remain in the top four.

Several Spurs stars have been on international duty over the break, where Yves Bissouma suffered an ankle ligament injury for Mali on his return from knee injury. He is ruled out for Sunday’s fixture, and apart from James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Radu Dragusin, Thomas Frank has a healthy squad to select for Aston Villa’s visit. They have been boosted by the return of Randal Kolo Muani, who was out for several weeks with a dead leg.

Thomas Frank advised to start Wilson Odobert vs Aston Villa

One player who shone during the recent international break was Wilson Odobert. He, along with Spurs teammate Mathys Tel, were in sizzling form, scoring a combined total of six goals for France. Wilson Odobert netted four and Mathys Tel bagged two in the big wins over the Faroe Islands and Estonia.

Both Odobert and Tel have now returned to Hotspur Way and will be chomping at the bits to build on that momentum when Tottenham face Villa. Tel broke his season’s duck with a goal in the win over Leeds United, but Odobert is still waiting to get off the mark for Spurs. The 20-year-old has managed only two starts from seven league fixtures under Thomas Frank, with competition in the attacking areas of the pitch plenty.

After his rich goalscoring form over the international break, Spurs podcast Lilywhite Rose owner John Wenham has told Frank to start Odobert vs Villa.

“Odobert has just come off an international break where he scored four goals,” John Wenham exclusively told Tottenham News.

“His confidence will be absolutely sky-high, and on that basis, I’d be starting him against Aston Villa on Sunday.

“I think you’ve got to play him and tap into any confidence that is built. If he were to get a couple of goals against Villa, then his trajectory could rocket. You’ve got to utilise players like that and get the best out of them.

“At the moment, I’d be looking to start Odobert, because he’s on that high of having scored so many goals for France.”

Hard to ignore Odobert’s recent form

Odobert demonstrated his quality with back-to-back braces for France Under-21s against Faroe Islands and Estonia during the recent international break. It was a reminder of the diminutive attacker’s ability to score goals, one that would be very well received by the Tottenham fans.

It’d be tough for Frank to overlook the Meaux-born talent’s form for France duty as he has returned to north London with great confidence. The Dane must look to take advantage of Odobert’s momentum and back him with a start against Villa. This will also give Odobert an opportunity to transform his international form to club level and cement his place in Frank’s first XI.

That said, whether the Spurs gaffer starts Odobert on Sunday remains to be seen, but the winger would know he’s done his bit to be in contention.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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