Reguilón returns, Winks, Dier dropped in latest Tottenham Hotspur friendly

Left-back Sergio Reguilón returns to the Tottenham lineup for the club’s third preseason friendly against MK Dons, while previous starters Winks and Dier are dropped. 

Maybe it means nothing, maybe it means some players may be getting sold. Likely many fans are hoping for the latter as both Harry Winks and Eric Dier – two players supposedly up for sale – are left out of the third preseason game completely. More importantly for Tottenham in real-time, however, is the return of more regulars with Sergio Reguilón and Matt Doherty making their pre-season debuts and club captain Hugo Lloris returning on the bench.

Tottenham starting a mixed-age line-up

In his third match in charge, Nuno Espirito Santo continues to play a number of younger players, some by choice, and some by necessity. With the lineup to face MK Dons on Wednesday evening, we see experienced players like Dele Alli lined up next to younger players like Nile John and Oliver Skipp. Of course, Skipp has some expectations on him this season but John really does not.

On defense, the Spurs are a mix of veterans Matt Doherty and Reguilón with two younger players in Japhet Tanganga and Cameron Carter-Vickers. CCV has been playing all summer, however, Tanganga is coming in for Dier who is not in the squad.

Those four are again in front of Alfie Whiteman who gets his second straight start in the net for Spurs. Notably, Lloris – who just returned to training this week – is the backup, not new loanee Pierluigi Gollini. Likewise, Ben Davies has made the bench fresh off his summer with Wales but Joe Rodon has not.

Tottenham have talent up top

Upfront, Santo continues to go with his top three (available) of Heung-Min Son, Steven Bergwijn, and Lucas Moura. Those three, along with Dele behind them – who is captain against his former club – will likely play a half and then concede to Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott,  Harvey White, and Jack Clarke who are all on the bench.

Nice mix of young players and veterans to start, which should give Tottenham the lead. Expect the second half to again be a lot of younger players getting a run out for the new regime. Regardless, Tottenham should win this line-up against a League One opponent, even on the road in Milton Keynes.