Tottenham Hotspur projected starting 11 for trip to Leicester
By Gary Pearson
Midfield
Giovanni Lo Celso should be reinstated for Sunday’s difficult test. Harry Winks was subpar yet again midweek and will lose his spot in the starting team to the crafty and industrious Argentine.
Pierre Hojberg is usually a staple in Spurs’ first team. He’s one of the first players inscribed on the team sheet. The Dane, however, appeared as exhausted as a 40-year-old pill popper after a four-day Ibiza binge against Villa. He has played in every one of Tottenham’s 37 Premier League matches. I’m still unsure whether the viking requires any sleep at all.
Though it will take much more than exhaustion to keep the steely viking out of the first 11. He’s too important, especially in a must-win match against a spry and dangerous Leicester side. Moussa Sissoko could step in and fill the role, but that’s a truly unlikely scenario based on the Frenchman’s lacklustre season.
Mason also has a decision to make between Gareth Bale and Steven Bergwijn. The Dutchman enjoyed his best performance for what seems like an eternity against Villa. He scored a belter and could have bagged a few more. He was then perplexingly and prematurely withdrawn by Mason.
If Tottenham were up on Villa and in cruise control, you could interpret the substitution as Mason wanting to rest Bergwijn in preparation for the season finale. While it’s clear that wasn’t the case, it’s hard to conceive of any other explanation for Mason’s decision. Expect Bale to get the nod. It will be the last chance for the decision makers to see the Welshman before a his fate is decided. Son is, as always, a shoo-in to crack the starting team, even after a severely subpar outing midweek against Villa.