Tottenham might welcome back stars for trip to Real Madrid
By Ryan Wrenn
Mauricio Pochettino could have at least two more options on Tuesday when Tottenham take on Real Madrid in Spain.
Sky Sports reports that both Danny Rose and Mousa Dembélé are traveling with Tottenham to Madrid, though it is unclear if they will actually make it into the matchday squad.
Indeed, Pochettino confirmed on Monday that Rose is not fit enough to start. This is hardly surprising considering the fact that the England international hasn’t played a game of football since the end of January.
Still, with Rose’s understudy Ben Davies also due out injured, Pochettino might not be above bringing him into the match as the situation dictates.
Jan Vertonghen did capably filled in at left-back over the weekend in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth at Wembley Stadium, and might be asked to do the same at the Bernabéu.
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Cristiano Ronaldo and company are an entirely different beast than the Cherries team Eddie Howe fielded on Saturday however. It is unlikely, for instance, that a Real team that is viscous on the counter will let Vertonghen’s adventurous runs forward go unpunished on the other end.
Pochettino could, in theory, deploy Kieran Trippier or even Academy product Kyle Walker-Peters on that flank, but these are far from ideal scenarios.
The absence of Dembélé has been less keenly felt since his ankle forced him off in the EFL Cup match against Barnsley in September. While there is no doubt that Spurs are a better team with the Belgium international keeping things humming in the center of the pitch, Harry Winks has done a fine job in the role over the last month. Pochettino can confident name the recently-capped England international on Tuesday.
News of Rose and Dembélé’s steady return to fitness will be more important for matches to come. Tottenham have defied the odds to power through injuries to several key players over the last year, but there is a mounting sense that the club’s depth is being tested too much.
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With matches against Liverpool, Manchester United and — of course — a return leg for Real Madrid coming up, Pochettino needs as many options available to him as possible. Perhaps Davies and Winks — not to mention Eric Dier and Heung-min Son — have started to earn starting roles in the absence of players they once understudied, but welcoming Rose and Dembélé back into the squad is only a benefit ahead of a dense and potentially testy fixture schedule.