Tottenham Hotspur host Paços de Ferriera in a must-win match to see who advanced to the Conference League Group Stage, here is the projected XI for Spurs.
Last week in Portugal, Head Coach Nuno Espirito Santo showed his commitment to developing the young players within the team. While there were some first-teamers – like Ben Davies and Giovani Lo Celso – were in the squad, it was also a team heavy on young players. So youthful was the team, there was not a single regular first-team player on the bench and the entire XI from the win over Manchester City was left home. This week we should expect a vastly different approach and a vastly different XI, starting with the big question, will he or won’t he play.
You better believe Kane is starting
The big Tottenham Hotspur news on Wednesday was Harry Kane publicly declaring his intention to stay at Tottenham through the window via social media. With that statement out, the questions started immediately coming to Nuno Santo about whether or not Kane would play. Santo was relatively coy in his response, saying it was a possibility.
Let’s get real, this is the first chance, Nuno Santo has had to start Harry Kane and he is going to do it. Tottenham needs the win, Kane needs the minutes, it makes perfect sense to start the talisman and make sure he gets at least a solid half of football in.
Ideally, Kane does his job and score a couple in the first half and comes out at half-time, more likely, however, Harry plays a full hour, and then hopefully we see more of Dane Scarlett.
Regardless, we should expect to see our main man back at home, in front of the faithful doing his job. So who else is going to be starting with Harry Kane?
Tottenham Starting Forwards
With Harry Kane starting at the center forward position the question is who will be there to get him the ball. With Lucas Moura and Heung-Min Son both seemingly struggling with some minor issues at the Wolves this past Sunday, we should expect to see some alternatives wide of Harry Kane.
Left-Wing: Ryan Sessegnon
Last week Ryan Sessegnon was a bit off the pace. Having only played 45 minutes in a youth match before the game, it is a bit understandable that the Englishman was not in top form. Now a full week later, and a couple of weeks into full-time training, we should see a better Sessegnon. This will be a big opportunity for Sessegnon and maybe one of his last this season if he cannot play better than last week. Sess gets another shot this week and with Kane in the middle, he should make it count.
Center forward: Harry Kane
As we established, with Kane fit and available, and back reintegrated fully with the first team, there is no reason not to start Harry Kane. Kane needs the minutes to work on his match fitness and frankly, Tottenham needs to make sure they win. There is no better way to help ensure victory than playing your best player. No matter what else has transpired, there is no doubting, Kane is Tottenham’s best player.
Right-Wing: Bryan Gil
Maybe in the ideal world, Bryan Gil would be on the left side and not the right as yet another naturally left-footed player. However, with the need to get Sessegnon some minutes as well as Gil, it likely means Bryan goes to the right. The good news is that Bryan can likely be effective anywhere on the pitch. The even better news is that he will be sending crosses into Harry Kane. Expect to see Bryan pick up at least his first assist Thursday evening.
Tottenham Projected Midfield
It is a mixed bag up front for Tottenham, with two young players on either side of the veteran Kane. However, we do not expect a whole lot of chances to be taken in the midfield with youth this week. At least not to start.
Left midfield: Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso is the only Tottenham player to have played every game thus far this season and we should expect that to continue on Thursday as he is likely to start again against Paços after going 90 minutes last week. Lo Celso is one of the more creative sparks in the team and it is important to get him going and this week should be a good chance to do that. Expect Lo Celso to most often be the furthest forward of the midfield three.
Center midfield: Harry Winks
Likely not the top choice for most people, myself included, however, Harry Winks is going to play a role in the team until he is no longer a part of the team. We would like to see Skippy play some more minutes but he is logging those in the Premier League and Tottenham have to stretch the side. This is certainly an area of the pitch where Tottenham needs to strengthen before the window closes and it is up to Winks to prove otherwise.
Right midfield: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
While the other two midfielders are not the same as the ones who started Sunday against the Wolves, we do expect on midfield carry-over, Pierre Højbjerg. We would like to see Højbjerg possibly get some rest here but unless Nile John starts again, this spot has the Dane’s name on it. Just as there is a lack of depth for Skipp in the deep middle the same is true really for both sides of the midfield in the 4-3-3 system. That said, Højbjerg is definitely a player who can log the minutes and likely will be better for it.
Projected Spurs Defense
The defensive set-up is definitely going to be different than in Portugal with the team going back to the 4-3-3 formation they have been using in the league. If Joe Rodon and Cameron Carter-Vickers were both healthy, then maybe Tottenham takes a different approach. However, the reality is Rodon and Carter-Vickers are both out, leaving the team just a bit short in the center of defense.
Left fullback: Ben Davies
Ben Davies started last week against Paços and likely is in line to do so again Thursday. Davies will be back to his familiar fullback position as opposed to either wing-back or center-half. With four defenders across the back, Davies should not be asked to do too much and should be just fine.
Center-half: Eric Dier
In the ideal world, this would be Joe Rodon playing here working to develop his skills and confidence. However, Rodon is injured and that leaves Tottenham a bit short on the left side, so we again see Eric Dier. The English defender has been steady thus far in the young season and Tottenham will be looking for his leadership Thursday.
Center-half: Cristian Romero
Cristian Romero did not have the best first start for Tottenham last week. He mistimed his step on the through ball that became the goal and was caught flatfooted a couple of times defensively. Playing next to the experience Dier should help as should the improved team in front of him. It may take Romero a bit to get fully up to speed but expect to see some glimpses of what that might look like against Paços.
Right fullback: Matt Doherty
We know that Serge Aurier was not placed on the player list for these two playoff games so he will not be playing Thursday. It could be possible that we see Japhet Tanganga based on how well he has been playing, however, with the idea of building depth and the squad in mind, instead, we get Matt Doherty. At times last season Doherty looked a real fit and other times he looked completely out of place. The reality with Doherty is likely somewhere in-between the two but he should be a step or two above Paços.
Goalkeeper: Pierluigi Gollini
After being sent out to the media on Wednesday it would be quite surprising if Pierluigi Gollini did not start on Thursday. Tottenham let Paulo Gazzaniga and Joe Hart go and signed Gollini on loan for a reason, which is to play. Gollini has looked solid overall in his opportunities but will really be looking to get a clean sheet and help the team qualify for Europe, which will mean more playing time for him and many of the others on the pitch.
Full Tottenham XI and the Bench
Tottenham is again back to the 4-3-3 formation and has a relatively experienced squad to face Paços.
Available Tottenham Substitutes
Despite the strength of the team on the pitch from the start, expect to see an equally strong bench. Whereas there were no starters on the bench last week, we should expect no academy players on the bench this week – less Dane Scarlett.
Hugo Lloris is the backup keeper and fellow full-time starters, Heung-Min Son, and Lucas Moura will join him on the bench. Additionally, Oliver Skipp and Dele Alli are available. Defensively, we can expect Japhet Tanganga and Davinson Sanchez to fill the gaps. That leaves only the ninth man left, which could be either Moussa Sissoko or Dane Scarlett, we here at HQ want to see Scarlett.
So there you have it, our projected Tottenham XI plus the nine on the pine. Who do you think Santo starts?