Tottenham: Three options at center-back with Sanchez and Romero out

Option 3: Move Eric Dier to the right side

The third option has the same complication as the first in that Santo would have to move someone from their position from the previous three games to do it. Instead of moving Tanganga inside, Santo could option to move Eric Dier from the left side of the center-back pairing to the right. Then on the left side, Ben Davies could slot in between Dier and Sergio Reguilon at left fullback.

This is probably the least desirable of the three options as it relies on moving Dier out of the position he has played for most of the last two seasons as well as moving Davies out of his normal role.

Certainly, as a right-footed player, Eric Dier could easily slide over and do the same job he does now from his mere natural side. The question really is how well Ben Davies would cope with moving inside, particularly playing against a striker as physical as Benteke.

Whereas with Tanganga moving inside and either Doherty or Emerson playing right-back the other player automatically provides some cover, the same is not true right now on the left.

If Davies moves inside, there really would be no natural backup available for either him or Reguilon. Given that Ryan Sessegnon is injured and unavailable, this third option is the least likely as it involves the most moving parts, which leaves the team just one more injury away from disaster.

Over the course of the season, Joe Rodon will presumably gain his health and fitness and be the natural replacement on either side of the center back pairing along with whoever is not starting between Sanchez and Romero. Until that time Santo and the Spurs may have to be a bit creative.