Tottenham Hotspur Projected XI for Wolfsberger in Europa League

Thursday Tottenham Hotspur travel to Budapest, Hungary to face Wolfsberger AC, an Austrian team in the Europa League. Such is footballing life during Covid that Spurs – like several other teams – are traveling to neutral countries with more successful virus control allowing for matches to be played. Regardless of where the game is going to be played, it is one Tottenham desperately need to win to get in the right mindset and set a course to hopefully winning the Europa League. With nothing short of a victory in mind, expect José Mourinho to use about as strong of a line-up as he can at this point.

It is Joe Hart’s Turn

Joe Hart was Spurs keeper for two of the team’s three Europa League qualifying matches, five of the six group stage matches, and two of the three FA Cup games. While Lloris did get the call most recently against Everton in the FA Cup, despite the significance of the occasion, Joe Hart has to get the call.

First, like Davinson Sanchez and some other players who maybe could have lost a spot to Joe Rodon, Hart has earned his opportunity to get the call. Second, Hugo Lloris has had a few howlers recently and getting a few minutes observing can hopefully help him clear his head. Third, Joe Hart – while not the shot stopper he once was – is still a commanding presence in the box and it looked early in the season like that was rubbing off on Hugo Lloris.

Seeing Hart put in a box commanding performance while he site on the bench might be exactly what Hugo needs. Alternatively, the idea that Hugo could get a shutout might be reason to start him in Hungary, but sticking with the rotation and the game plan of Europa League belonging to Hart makes the most sense. Besides Joe Hart, who do we expect to start for Tottenham?