Tottenham team update and starting 11 vs Manchester City

Unless the unpredictable happens, Tottenham will host Manchester City on Sunday having signed just two players during the winter transfer period. 

Gedson Fernandes and Steven Bergwijn have joined the Lilywhites in recent weeks. Tottenham will be somewhat frustrated about their inability to sign a second striker, but must be content with bringing someone of Bergwijn’s caliber into the fray.

Team update

The injured list is continuously diminishing, with Hugo Lloris and Tanguy Ndombele both available for selection. Ben Davies is days away from being ready but probably won’t feature at home against City on Sunday.

Harry Kane, Moussa Sissoko and Michel Vorm are the only three who remain on the long-term injury list. Spurs face their first competitive match without Christian Eriksen, who signed for Inter in the last few days.

Starting 11

While most new additions rarely start in their first week after joining a club, one would expect Bergwijn to get an immediate role in the team. He’ll most likely start on his own up front. Throwing him into the deep end will test his constitution while providing Tottenham a more stable and customary attacking quartet.

Dele Alli, Son Heung-Min and Lucas Moura will support Bergwijn in his first start for Tottenham. Erik Lamela misses out but will be utilized if Moura or Dele struggle in the first half. Giovani Lo Celso is now a shoo-in to start for Spurs. He has been dominant of late and is a necessity at the heart of midfield.

Ndombele makes his long-awaited return, lining up in front of the back four. He’ll do most of the legwork in midfield, tracking back and harrying City’s most dynamic players.

Jose Mourinho might opt not to start Jan Vertonghen on the left, with Davinson Sanchez’s spot by no means solidified. Sanchez has fallen out of favour and will probably have to make way for Vertonghen. But that would leave a hole at left back. Ryan Sessegnon hasn’t been good enough to deserve a start against a team of City’s caliber and there is no way Danny Rose gets the nod. Rose is on death row at Tottenham and is expected to leave the club imminently.

Ben Davies is close to returning but probably won’t feature. Hopefully he does but Mourinho might err on the side of caution with a massive test against RB Leipzig in the Champions League forthcoming.