X FACTOR

Spurs boss Frank backs young gun Simons to turn on the style

- BY ALASDAIR GOLD

THOMAS FRANK has no doubt Xavi Simons will become a Tottenham star as the Dutchman prepares to face Chelsea, the team who seemed set to sign him all summer.

The Blues had long been expected to snap up the 22-year-old but needed to sell forward Nicolas Jackson before they could make their move for the Bundesliga midfielder.

As Jackson's exit hit delays, Spurs swooped in to grab the Holland international in a £51million deal from RB Leipzig.

Since arriving on the north side of the capital, Xavi (right) has shown glimpses of his quality, but with just one assist so far and no goals to his name, the midfielder is yet to fully show the ability that marked him out as one of Europe's rising stars in his teenage years at Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.