Tottenham lineup vs. Doncaster Rovers: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest as Frank's Spurs begin Carabao Cup run

Vishal Bhawani

Tottenham lineup vs. Doncaster Rovers: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest as Frank's Spurs begin Carabao Cup run image

Tottenham Hotspur welcome League One side Doncaster Rovers to North London on Wednesday for a Carabao Cup third-round clash.

Spurs enter the competition at this stage due to being involved in the UEFA Champions League, while Doncaster have already upset Middlesbrough and beaten Accrington Stanley to reach this round.

Thomas Frank's side are aiming to end a long wait for silverware in domestic football, with their last EFL Cup triumph coming back in 2008.

Spurs have made a solid start to the season and showed fighting spirit in a recent 2-2 Premier League draw at Brighton & Hove Albion. History also favours them, having beaten Doncaster 5-1 in their last meeting in this competition.

Doncaster arrive with mixed form after back-to-back League One defeats to Wigan Athletic and AFC Wimbledon. Their defence has looked shaky, conceding seven goals in their past four games, which is a worrying sign before facing top-flight opposition.

While Doncaster will hope for another cup shock, Tottenham's quality and home advantage make them heavy favourites to progress to the next round.

MORE: Tottenham weigh up fresh attempt to land highly rated Premier League attacker

Tottenham lineup vs. Doncaster Rovers: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest

Spurs remain without James Maddison, Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, Kota Takai, Yves Bissouma and Dominic Solanke, who are all recovering from injuries.

Randal Kolo Muani and Ben Davies are set to return after minor knocks, and Frank is expected to rotate heavily.

Antonin Kinsky, Archie Gray, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel and Dane Scarlett are in line for starts, and academy talent Luca Williams-Barnett could also feature after a recent hat-trick for the Under-21s.

Tottenham predicted starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): Kinsky (GK) — Spence, Danso, Davies, Udogie — Sarr, Gray, Simons — Johnson, Scarlett, Tel

Injured: Maddison (ACL), Dragusin (ACL), Kulusevski (Knee), Takai (foot), Bissouma (knock), Solanke (ankle), 
Suspended: None

Tottenham vs. Doncaster Rovers match details

  • Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 
  • Kickoff time: 7:45 p.m. local / 2:45 p.m. ET / 11:45 a.m. PT / 4:45 a.m. AEST (Sep. 25)
  • Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London (England)
  • Competition: Carabao Cup
  • Referee: Andrew Madley

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Vishal Bhawani

Vishal Bhawani is a sub-editor for the Affiliate Content team and a writer and sub-editor for the Football Wires team at The Sporting News. Based in Indore, India, he holds a Diploma in Operations and Management from Maharashtra University.

Before joining TSN in May 2024, Vishal contributed to Football Express and Six Sports and ran his own blog, Anfield Home, as a passionate Liverpool fan. An avid traveler, he follows multiple sports, including cricket, soccer, and tennis.