On Sunday, the Lilywhites will try to snap their current losing streak by defeating the Villans at home.
With just a point separating the two teams in what is expected to be a fierce top-four battle this season, Tottenham Hotspur will make their Premier League comeback on Sunday against an impressive Aston Villa team.
The Lilywhites enter tomorrow’s match at N17 having lost their last two league games, most notably a breathtaking late collapse on the road against Wolverhampton Wanderers, just before the recent international break.
Ange Postecoglou‘s position has not been made any easier by the accumulating injuries and absences that have hampered his team, with choices pretty thin on the ground all across the park.
With that in mind, the Greek-Aussie could make three changes from the team that lost at Molineux in preparation for Unai Emery‘s arrival…
1. GK – Guglielmo Vicario
Guglielmo Vicario, a lesser-known name before to his arrival in north London, has been a “absolute revelation” since his £17.2m move from Empoli, according to Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, and is a certainty to start again this time around.
2. RB – Pedro Porro
Pedro Porro, who has started every game this season since the opening day draw with Brentford, will keep his starting spot at right-back.
3.CB – Eric Dier
With Cristian Romero still suspended and Micky van de Ven injured, Eric Dier will have to preserve his spot at centre-back, despite being linked with a move away in January.
4. CB – Ben Davies
Alongside the long-serving Dier will be fellow stalwart Ben Davies, with any plans to shake up the backline hampered by the injury to 18-year-old Ashley Phillips.
5. LB – Destiny Udogie
One of Postecoglou’s few bright spots will be the anticipated return of Destiny Udogie at left-back, after the Italy international served his one-game suspension against Gary O’Neil’s side last time out.
6. CM – Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
Previously linked with a summer exit, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg may be able to re-establish himself as a major player in the side, with Yves Bissouma set to miss out tomorrow after already receiving five yellow cards this season.
With James Maddison also out until the New Year with Pape Matar Sarr’s fitness still in doubt, Hojbjerg will most likely keep his place in midfield.
7. CM – Rodrigo Bentancur
Along with Udogie, the second change might be the addition of Rodrigo Bentancur, the Uruguayan international who appears to be reaching full health after playing for his country during the international break.
After missing most of 2023 due to an ACL injury, the £75k-per-week “unsung hero,” as Jamie Redknapp named him on the Sky Sports Football Podcast, might be in line for his first start of the season.
8. CAM – Jamie Donley
In Maddison’s absence, the Spurs’ playmaking slot will require a new creative spark.
After collecting 11 assists in the minor ranks this season, 19-year-old Jamie Donley may be deserving of his first senior appearance as the final change from the side that lost against Wolves – with football.The adolescent is now ‘hard to ignore,’ according to London’s Rob Guest.
9. RW – Dejan Kulusevski
In reality, the dearth of attacking options – combined with Richarlison’s injury issues – will mean that the frontline effectively picks itself, with Dejan Kulusevski starting every game in the top tier in 2023/24.
10. ST – Heung-min Son
Spurs’ leading scorer and captain will lead the line once more, having found a lovely new home for himself through the middle after netting three goals for South Korea on international duty.
11. LW – Brennan Johnson
following scoring his first goal for the club last time out, summer signing Brennan Johnson should complete the striking trio, with the £47.5m arrival hoping to truly get up to speed following an injury-plagued start to life in the capital.
Spurs predicted XI in full vs Aston Villa: GK – Vicario; RB – Porro, CB – Dier, CB – Davies, LB – Udogie; CM – Hojbjerg, CM – Bentancur, CAM – Donley; RW – Kulusevski, ST – Son, LW – Johnson
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