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Spurs’ Four Options After Vertonghen’s Injury, Ranked

By Ryan Wrenn

Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen (5) defends against MLS All Stars midfielder Graham Zusi (19) of Sporting Kansas City in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick
Jul 29, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen (5) defends against MLS All Stars midfielder Graham Zusi (19) of Sporting Kansas City in the first half of the 2015 MLS All Star Game at Dick /
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1. Kevin Wimmer

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 20 : Andy King of Leicester City in action with Kevin Wimmer of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay match between Leicester City and Tottenham at the King Power Stadium on January 20 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 20 : Andy King of Leicester City in action with Kevin Wimmer of Tottenham Hotspur during The Emirates FA Cup Third Round Replay match between Leicester City and Tottenham at the King Power Stadium on January 20 , 2016 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images) /

The most obvious way to make up for Vertonghen’s absence is to turn to the man Pochettino called onto the field on Saturday as the Belgian departed. Kevin Wimmer arrived at Spurs over the summer to provide exactly this kind of cover should either Vertonghen or Alderweireld go down, if not also compete for a shot in the starting XI himself.

Wimmer spent two seasons as a regular starter with FC Cologne in Germany – the first in the club’s promotion campaign and the second in the Bundesliga proper – before making the switch to Spurs, so this wouldn’t be the first time the 23-year-old has been relied upon. While Saturday was his first taste of the Premier League, he had previously started five other matches in the Europa League and domestic cups.

He’s acquitted himself well enough in those chances to likely earn the starting spot alongside Alderweireld for however long Vertonghen might be out. Pochettino might take some solace that Spurs’ next two Premier League matches are away and home fixtures against Norwich and Watford respectively. With a trip to Manchester City following those matches, though, Pochettino will have to hope that those two games will be a long enough time for Wimmer to find his feet in the league.

Next: Eric Dier

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