Tottenham know a win over Monaco could be their most important of the season

Spurs are without 10 first-team players tonight as the fixtures turn tough

Your matchday briefing on Tottenham, featuring team news and expert analysis from Matt Verri

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Just over two months into the season, it is difficult to know quite what to make of Tottenham 's start to life under Thomas Frank .

Sixth in the table and five points off leaders Arsenal is a marked improvement from last season's Premier League shambles, while four points from two Champions League matches represents a strong platform to kick on from.

The defence is much-improved and set-pieces at both ends of the pitch have been transformed.

Yet there is a sense things are not quite right. The eye test tells you the right balance in midfield has not been found and that Spurs' attackers, Mohammed Kudus aside, are not as threatening as Frank needs.

The underlying data shows that Spurs are in the bottom half when it comes to expected goals and expected points.

Tottenham are over-performing their data

Action Images via Reuters

With an incredibly tough run of fixtures taking Spurs all the way through to Christmas, the direction of the team's season will soon become apparent.

Frank's side take on Monaco tonight in the Champions League and the French club have not lost at home this season, taking a point off Manchester City at the start of October.

Spurs have the best away record in the Premier League , but this will be a stern test, not least because a familiar problem is once again rearing its head.

For one reason or another, Frank will be without ten first-team players tonight. Coping without the likes of James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski is something Spurs have had to do all season, but the treatment room now has fresh blood.

Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies all returned from the international break with injury issues and have not travelled to Monaco .

As it stands, Spurs have two fit full-backs in the squad and 16-year-old Jun'ai Byfield as their only back-up centre-back. One more injury and either Archie Gray or Joao Palhinha would likely have to slot into the defence.

Cristian Romero picked up an injury in the warm-up on Sunday

Action Images via Reuters

Frank was unable to provide a timeframe for Romero's return, but he was asked at his pre-match press conference whether fans should be worried about the Spurs captain's injury.

He responded: “No, I don't think so. For me it's an adductor strain. We'll assess him this week and then we'll know more.”

Any anxiety from supporters, though, would only be natural. It was not far off this time last season that injury problems hit for Romero, and much of the Spurs squad, and the domestic season fell apart.

However long Romero is out for this time, and Spurs remain hopeful it is not for an extended period, he will be sorely missed.

Spurs were incredibly poor against Bodo/Glimt without their captain last month. Kevin Danso is a capable understudy but he cannot replace Romero's ability on the ball when it comes to finding passes through the lines.

Particularly with the Spurs midfield in front of him often being too safe in possession, Romero is capable of relieving the pressure and picking out the creative players in pockets of space.

Kevin Danso will be required to step up in his captain’s absence

John Walton/PA Wire

Ahead of what feels like a huge run of fixtures, coping without Romero is a significant test of Spurs' mentality. Much has been made of the improvements the team have made in that respect this season, with multiple comebacks, and this is another stern examination.

Particularly now with the captain's armband, Romero is the player this Spurs team look to in the toughest moments, to rally them and hold the fort together.

After tonight's clash, Spurs travel to face Everton on Sunday and are away at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. Frank's side then host Chelsea and Manchester United - Spurs have won three of their last 18 home matches in the Premier League. Beyond the next international break, Arsenal and PSG loom.

It is a run that will potentially serve as a crossroads for the season. Come through it, even with the injury issues, and there will be no shortage of evidence that Spurs really have turned a corner under Frank, and the positive league positions are sustainable.

Picking up a result in Monaco without their captain would be the perfect start.