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Tottenham Hotspur projected XI for Conference League trip to Rennes

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Pierluigi Gollini of Tottenham Hotspur during the Pre Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 04, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Pierluigi Gollini of Tottenham Hotspur during the Pre Season Friendly match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on August 04, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspur looks on as he warms up before the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on April 16, 2021, in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Peter Powell – Pool/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Tanguy Ndombele of Tottenham Hotspur looks on as he warms up before the Premier League match between Everton and Tottenham Hotspur at Goodison Park on April 16, 2021, in Liverpool, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Peter Powell – Pool/Getty Images) /

Tottenham projected midfield

Tottenham clearly has some issues in the midfield in terms of finding the right balance of defensive graft and offensive creativity. Thus far in the regular season, the right combination has been difficult to identify. Given the presence of some new players in the midfield for Tottenham on Thursday, maybe some performers will rise.

Left midfield: Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele has not received a single minute with Tottenham Hotspur since Jose Mourinho was let go back before the Carabao Cup final. Given no move away from London materialized in the summer Ndombele was added to the squad for both Europe and the Premier League. Given he is in the squad and made the trip, it is time for Tanguy to play. Like Dele Alli, possibly the inability to really find the right position has been one of the factors holding him back. However, in a more traditional midfield three, being asked to play the number eight role, in his home country, we may finally see Ndombele again.

Center midfield: Harry Winks

This is not the call I really want Tottenham to make, rather I think it is the call they are going to make. With Skipp coming off a knock over the break and Chelsea at the weekend, it just seems right that WInks gets the call as the deepest of the three midfielders. The reality is, it will continue to take injuries – like we saw last week – for Winks to get playing time in the league so, like many others in the side, he is a non-league player for Spurs and thus starts Thursday.

Right midfield: Pierre Hojberg

There is any number of players who could get the call from Nile John to Dylan Markanday or even Dele Alli, but Hojbjerg gets the call on Thursday. This is because Nuno is more conservative as a coach and he wants that second defensive-minded midfielder on the pitch from the off. Hojbjerg was not great against Palace, and the Spurs need him right for Chelseas, so the Viking goes.