First preseason game a big opportunity for Tottenham Hotspur youth

Available Tottenham players for first friendly

Even with all the players unavailable, Tottenham technically has a full XI still available of first-team players, although we are unlikely to see all of them. It would be a strange lineup but if Nuno wanted to play all senior players from the off, he could make a lineup like this one below, which is a strange 4-4-2 with a lot of players out of position.

Of course, the idea of playing Dele and Lamela at striker along with Doherty and Aurier together in the back is quite laughable. Even with XI first-team players available, expect some youth to be injected into the team for several reasons.

Younger players serve multiple purposes for Tottenham

Playing the younger players helps in several regards for Tottenham Hotspur. The first is giving the new coach the opportunity to see some young talent and giving some young talent an opportunity to impress is an obvious plus. Additionally, younger players can be used in a greater variety of ways without upsetting the apple cart too much allowing Santo to use his senior players in positions that he wants.

It is unlikely Dele plays as a striker, even a second striker, but unless one of three teenagers – Troy Parrott, Dane Scarlett, or Alfie Devine – starts Dele may have to play there by default. Likewise, to get Matt Doherty wide on the right it may mean one of Cameron Carter-Vickers or Tj Eyoma – two players who impressed last season on loan – has to start with Eric Dier.

Surely, the coach would rather see his senior players play in the positions where he wants them to play with some youth around them than he does play those senior players out of position just to get minutes. The preseason is about confidence as much as fitness and getting comfortable in one’s role goes a long way toward building confidence.

Who might we see for Spurs against Leyton Orient?

Besides, the five aforementioned players – Parrott, Scarlett, Devine, Carter-Vickers, and Eyoma – Tottenham have a handful of youngsters we are likely to see play Saturday afternoon.

After a super impressive loan and then a tough leg injury with Norwich, fans and the club both will be excited to see Oliver Skipp in action in the midfield. Skipp could potentially replace Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko in the rotation or he could end up back out on loan.

Ryan Sessegnon is another player coming back from a loan looking to make an impact. With Ben Davies out Saturday is an opportunity for Sessegnon.  Harvey White and Jack Clarke are two more youngsters looking to stake some claim on a place in the team after spending some time away from N17 last season.

If you add in Nile John and Kion Etete -who have both been in pictures with the senior team during the preseason – that is 10 players who were not part of the main squad last season looking to stake some kind of claim.

While we would like to see some big new signings, nothing would please most fans more than seeing Sessegnon, Skipp and some other youngster come good. Santo had a good record with younger players previously and maybe the same will be true at Tottenham. If that is going to happen and the club is going to find its next Harry Kane from within, it starts Saturday when many less familiar faces get a chance.