Winks, Tanganga highlight Tottenham starting XI for Leeds

Forced to rotate some of his squad, Antonio Conte has gone with academy graduates, Harry WInks and Japhet Tanganga in his Tottenham Hotspur starting XI versus Leeds United.

With the suspension of Oliver Skipp and an injury to Cristian Romero, we knew Tottenham was going to make some changes heading into the match-up with Leeds United. Add in a knock to Giovani Lo Celso and Antonio Conte was not left with a lot of choices.

For both Winks and Tanganga, this is not just being stuck with playing the two, it really is about having a chance to show something.

Like the start of the season again for Tottenham, Tanganga

When the season started, Japhet Tanganga was the starting right-back for Tottenham and he played well through three matches. Unfortunately, a confluence of a red card, other players’ injuries, and the addition of Emerson Royal pushed Tanganga out of his starting role.

Now with Cristian Romero injured and Conte in charge of a changed system and shape, Tanganga again has an opportunity to shine. The best of the right-sided Tottenham defenders on the ball, Tanganga should shine against a weakened Leeds squad.

For Spurs, Winks, this is it

Whereas Tanganga is a 22-year-old defender just breaking in with Spurs in full. At 25, Winks has been around the block and back again for Tottenham. A fit for Mauricio Pochettino‘s system, Winks was never going to work in Jose Mourinho’s team, which asks far too much of the holding midfielders.

Now, like Tanganga in a slightly different shape and role under Conte, Winks will be in a position to shine. Asked to cover less of the pitch defensively and to make passes from deep, Winksy will once again be in a role that actually matches his skills. Once known for his progressive, forward passing, the last two seasons, Winks has simply recycled the ball.

Tanganga and Winks are the only two changes from the side that face Everton two weekends ago but we should expect a much better overall performance now that much of the squad has had more time to work with Conte and his staff.