Tottenham's Mathys Tel equals France under-21 goalscoring record

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Mathys Tel will be hoping to take his goal-scoring exploits with France Under-21s over the international break into Tottenham's fight to turn their Premier League season around.

Tel has yet to score for Spurs this season but hit a hat-trick in a 7-1 win over Switzerland in Orleans on Tuesday night as France, who had already qualified for the 2027 European U21 Championship, completed their group campaign unbeaten with eight victories.

With 17 goals, Tel, who also scored in two other games over the break, has equalled Odsonne Edouard's record for France U21s and could have put himself into contention for a senior call-up to Zinedine Zidane's squad for the Nations League games in November.

"My brother had been nagging me about it [the goals record] for months. In the end it was in the back of my mind," Tel told reporters, as quoted in L'Equipe.

"With qualification [achieved], there was a different kind of motivation that allowed me to give my best, so now I am very happy."

Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham slumped to the bottom of the table ahead of the international break, with a 3-2 home defeat by Aston Villa a third loss from their five opening Premier League games.

The boss welcomed former player and first-team coach Gus Poyet to the training ground on Tuesday and appeared in good spirits as the pair chatted on the sidelines in a video on the club's social media account.

Spurs travel to Manchester United on Saturday and have a few fitness concerns following the international break.

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Right-back Pedro Porro has been carrying a hamstring injury which saw him pull out the Spain squad ahead of the extended three-week window.

Defender Jan Paul van Hecke was then sent home early from the Netherlands camp with a foot problem, which could keep him out of contention at Old Trafford.

Fellow Dutchman Micky van de Ven picked up a minor hand injury after being accidentally stepped on during the win over Serbia in Eindhoven and was forced off late on, but the Spurs captain is expected to be involved.

Speaking after the match, Netherlands manager Xavi told reporters: "He is okay. He felt dizzy because he suffered with his finger. It is not a big injury."