Tottenham boss Thomas Frank sends Xavi Simons message and addresses Brennan Johnson situation

Thomas Frank isn't losing any sleep over Xavi Simons' Tottenham struggles because in his view, the Dutchman is slowly showing signs of coming good.

The Netherlands international has registered just one assist - from a corner in the 3-0 demolition of West Ham - since sealing his initial £51.8million Spurs switch from RB Leipzig in late August.

But Frank, speaking ahead of tonight's Champions League showdown with Monaco, feels there is evidence to suggest he is getting closer to awakening the beast.

The Dane said when asked whether there were clear parallels between Simons and Liverpool's Florian Wirtz, another high-profile Premier League arrival from the Bundesliga: "It's a very good comparison as Wirtz is also a good player and just like Xavi, he has come into a new country, new club, new city and needs to settle, it's part of it.

"We are all getting judged every game but we also need to see the bigger perspective. I always look for glimpses and with Xavi, I asked him to arrive more in the box and when I looked back at the game, he did.

"Was there a big eye-catching moment? No, but there were glimpses so it’s going a little bit in the right direction." Tottenham wouldn't even be playing Champions League football if it was not for Brennan Johnson's historic goal in Bilbao.

However, the Welshman now appears to be desperately out of favour, despite starting and scoring against Burnley and Manchester City in the first two Premier League matches of the season.

Mohammed Kudus, a £55m capture from West Ham, appears to have made the right-wing spot his own yet Frank is adamant more opportunities will soon follow for Johnson.

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The Spurs head coach explained: "I think, for me, Brennan is a very important player. He scored a fantastic and important goal last season and was the top goalscorer for the club

"Brennan has trained very well the last couple of weeks, doing what he's doing very well, scoring goals in training.

"Kudus has done well and Wilson [Odobert] has also done well on the left. There's competition but Brennan just needs to keep going. He will get his games."

Tottenham are without 10 first-team players for the trip to Stade Louis II.

Captain Cristian Romero hasn't travelled due to an adductor injury while Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies have also stayed back in London.

Mathys Tel and Kota Takai are not registered while James Maddison, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Yves Bissouma and Radu Dragusin remain sidelined through injury.

Despite recent criticism in light of the shock defeat to Aston Villa, ambitious Frank believes there is clear scope for Tottenham to kick on.

He continued: "It’s fair to say we are relatively early days and there has been a lot of progress overall. We've been very good in high pressure and offensively, scored quite a few goals.

"How many teams right now play free-flowing top football three games in a row, in the Premier League?

"We are aiming for the perfect game every game. That’s what we want but we know what we are working at and progressing nicely."