Depleted and struggling Spurs squad hit by illness before first Premier League game of 2025
Dan Kilpatrick @ Dan_KP54 seconds ago
Tottenham will have to make late calls on a number of players after their squad was hit by illness before today’s Premier League clash with Newcastle.
Destiny Udogie will miss the first game of 2025 as he begins a lay-off of around six weeks with the hamstring strain picked up against Wolves last weekend, with Djed Spence set to deputise at left-back after a suspension.
Guglielmo Vicario (foot), Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven (both hamstring) and Cristian Romero (quad) remain sidelined, so the rest of Ange Postecoglou's back five effectively picks itself, though concerns over a sickness bug affecting the squad could see third-choice goalkeeper Brandon Austin and young defender Alfie Dorrington handed first-ever starts.
Austin, 26, has been at Spurs for nine years but has never made a first-team appearance. His last competitive outing came for loan club Orlando City in Major League Soccer (MLS) back in 2021. Dorrington was a late substitute in the recent 5-0 win at Southampton for his first senior minutes for Spurs.
With Rodrigo Bentancur banned again, Yves Bissouma is expected to return at No6, with James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr likely to start in the twin No8 roles because they are both suspended for the midweek game against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
Dejan Kulusevski could move into the front three alongside Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke, with Brennan Johnson, Lucas Bergvall and Timo Werner among Postecoglou's likely substitutes.
Richarlison (hamstring) and Mikey Moore (illness) are expected to return to the squad next week, while Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is a longer-term injury.
Selection headache: Ange Postecoglou is missing a number of key Tottenham players
AFP via Getty Images
New signing Yang Min-hyeok is available after officially joining the club on January 1, although Postecoglou has said Spurs will give the 18-year-old time to adjust to English football.
Predicted Tottenham XI (4-3-3): Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Son, Solanke
Injured: Udogie, Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Richarlison, Moore, Odobert
Doubt: Forster
Suspended: Bentancur
Time and date: 12.30pm GMT on Saturday January 4, 2025
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports
MORE ABOUT