How will depleted Spurs line up against APOEL?
Tottenham’s squad depth will be put to the test in their Champions League Group H tie against Apoel Nicosia.
Mauricio Pochettino was already without long-term absentees Danny Rose (knee) and Erik Lamela (hip), while Victor Wanyama is yet to recover from the knee injury that has kept him out of the last four games in all competitions.
On paper, the trip to Cyprus should not cause the Lilywhites too many problems. Spurs fans’ confidence will have been slightly dented, however, with the news that Christian Eriksen has been ruled out through illness.
The Dane effortlessly pulled the strings in the weekend’s 3-2 win over West Ham, a display that has reinvigorated the debate surrounding whether he is the Premier League’s finest playmaker.
Without either Eriksen or Mousa Dembele, Spurs suddenly have a selection dilemma on their hands. Pochettino chose to rotate in last season’s underwhelming European campaign, but this time it has been forced upon him.
What will Spurs’ attack look like?
Eriksen rarely misses out, so this is not a problem Tottenham are overly familiar with. If Georges-Kevin N’Koudou does not feature in some capacity, which is possible, it will speak volumes about the dugout’s lack of trust in the winger.
Speaking of trust, Tashan Oakley-Boothe could be elevated to the bench again, having become the first player to represent the first team who was born this millennium when he came on in the Carabao Cup. The youngster could earn another cameo if things are going well.
It seems unlikely that Pochettino would risk resting Kane given that he’s already without so many of his first choice attacking options. Fernando Llorente may well be introduced late on, but the responsibility of easing the pressure on Kane should fall to Heung-Min Son - so often Tottenham’s saviour last season. The South Korean often doesn’t operate too well with Moussa Sissoko in the same line-up, though the Frenchman was much improved at the London Stadium and is starting to adapt to the system much better. The other possibility is to play Llorente up top with Kane just behind him.
And the defence?
Jan Vertonghen’s late sending off against Borussia Dortmund means he will join Dele Alli in being suspended. Summer signing Juan Foyth is set to come into a back three alongside Toby Alderweireld and Davinson Sanchez. All that we’ve seen of the young Argentine was his debut against Barnsley. He looked composed and his manager rates him highly.
At right-wing-back, it’s a choice of Serge Aurier or Kieran Trippier. The former PSG man did not cover himself in glory in his full debut on Saturday. One particularly well-timed tackle was overshadowed by his red card and he was fortunate not to give away a penalty. As he’s suspended for the weekend’s trip to Huddersfield, it would make sense to play him here and save Trippier for the Premier League.
A big moment for Harry Winks
Harry Winks’ fantastic debut season last term was curtailed by the freak injury he suffered at Burnley. Pochettino’s disappointment at being without Dembele was plain to see in his press conference; he calls the Belgian a “genius” for a reason. Then again, he has called Winks a “little Iniesta” in the past. It would be a huge plus to see the 21-year-old stepping up. The pressure is on Eric Dier to put some of his more erratic performances this season behind him, too.
Predicted line-up: Vorm, Aurier, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Davies, Winks, Dier, N’Koudou, Son, Sissoko, Kane
