The biggest selection dilemmas for Thursday evening

On Thursday evening, Spurs will take on Turkish giants Galatasaray in their fourth Europa League game of the current campaign. Coming into the game, Ange Postecoglu's side are one of just three sides with maximum points from their opening three games, whilst Galatasaray are not far behind - having picked up seven points from their three.

Ahead of the game, there are plenty of selection dilemmas for Ange, let’s have a look at what those are.

In goal, it will likely be Gugliemo Vicario, and it is hard to argue, though it is perhaps not as clear cut as you would think. Fraser Forster has played in hugely intense Old Firm games, as well as big Champions League games with deafening atmospheres, being part of the Celtic team that beat Barcelona 2-1 back in 2012.

Meanwhile, Vicario could be targeted and seen as someone who might fold under the hostile atmosphere. It is certainly one to think about, but the disparity in shot stopping does make this one just a bit too risky to go with the big man in goal.

It was only last week that we were saying how important Destiny Udogie is in Europa League games. In a game like this, his calmness on the ball and his strength would be really useful to try and combat the intense atmosphere and pressure from Galatasaray.

However, since then Udogie has once again had to come on early in a game, after van de Ven’s injury against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. That game was meant to be his opportunity to get some rest. The defender has now played over 1,000 minutes for Spurs in all competitions already this season, as well as another another 83 minutes for Italy in the nations league.

Furthermore, the game against Galatasaray is less than 72 hours before the game against Ipswich Town on Sunday, and is the best part of 2,000 miles away. This game might become a game too many for Udogie.

Pedro Porro remained an unused sub for the game against Manchester City, although for club and country has played 1,167 minutes this season, which is 88 minutes more than Udogie. The reality is that with Ben Davies having to fill in in central defence, one of the two are going to have to play, with Archie Gray filling in on the other side – but which one? A potential tick for Udogie starting is that he is currently a sub for Italy, whilst Porro is starting for Spain, so will get more rest over the break.

Up front, another player that could do with rest is Dominic Solanke, who has played 1000 minutes for club and country this season, and looked absolutely shattered at the end of the game against City. The issue is, Richarlison, who felt like the sensible choice to bring in up front, got injured again in the win over Aston Villa.

The intense cauldron that is Rams Park feels like a huge game to start someone like Will Lankhear in. Whilst even if things go badly, it will be a good learning curve for him, you do fear that this is the sort of game that could swallow him up. Ange may give Solanke an hour or so, and give Lankshear some minutes in the second half, particularly if Spurs are ahead at that point.

There is the dilemma on the wings. Brennan Johnson is another player that could do without having to start in this game. With Wilson Odobert injured again, there is not much alternative on the right for Ange. The likelihood is that it will be Mikey Moore, though even that takes off an option for the left hand side.

As for the left, does Ange give Heung-Min Son minutes to try and improve his sharpness – or keep him fully fresh for the game against Ipswich Town? If he does not play, then it’ll likely have to be Timo Werner, with Richarlison and Odobert injured, and Moore likely having to play on the right.

In midfield, Pape Sarr has played 857 minutes for club and country this season, certainly not as much as the other players. He could be a key player for this game, and his physicality and ball winning in a game like this could be really important. Plus, whilst you do want to rotate, a win would still be perfect and having Sarr in the team would be huge to help their chances of this.

Yves Bissouma has a similar amount of minutes, with Ange liking to rotate him with the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur. He is another one that could certainly come into the side for this showdown.

With James Maddison being an unused sub for the game against City, and a late sub against Villa, he could come in for this one, particularly if he does once again not get called up to the England national team for the forthcoming international break. Him coming in for this one would also give Dejan Kulusevski some much needed and deserved rest.

Potential line up for Galatasaray; Vicario, Gray, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Maddison; Moore, Solanke, Werner.