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Later on this afternoon, Tottenham Hotspur will be taking to the field in East Anglia, as they take on newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road, for match day 26 of the current Premier League season.

How both teams line up at Portman Road in the Premier League this afternoon

For the task at hand, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has opted for a line up of; Vicario; Spence, Danso, Gray, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Bergvall; Johnson, Tel, Son.

Meanwhile, the bench consists of; Kinsky, Porro, Reguilon, Bissouma, Sarr, Maddison, Moore, Odobert, Scarlett.

Fans, including us, have been hoping to see a full back pairing of Spence and Udogie at some point. It is clear that Porro has been overplayed, and is in need of some rest. We have seen how good Spence has been out of position, so you would hope he will really be able to thrive in his actual position here.

It's also exciting to see a front three of Johnson, Tel, and Son - with Kulusevski creating for them behind. Just got to hope that there will be enough space for them to thrive. If not, the Sweden international will certainly be tasked with trying to pierce Ipswich open.

Having Odobert and Moore on the bench feels like really good depth too, as well as Scarlett, whom has scored in Europe this season. All of a sudden the squad is beginning to look good again. Feels harsh on Maddison, given his goal and performance last week - but perhaps it is just to manage his minutes after returning from an injury.

Meanwhile, Kieran McKenna has opted for a line up of; Palmer; Godfrey, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Phillips, Cajuste; Philogene, Hutchinson, Clarke, Delap.

Whilst the bench contains; Muric, Woolfenden, Townsend, Johson, Morsy, Taylor, Szmodics, Broadhead, and Hirst.

Fans will remember Spurs signing Clarke back in the summer of 2019 from Leeds United, though he was sold to Sunderland in the summer of 2022, having never made a first team appearance for the club. So we all know what is happening today.

Meanwhile, Spurs linked Delap leads the line. He scored in the reverse fixture back in November - whilst other goalscorer Szmodics, is fit enough for the bench, having missed their previous game with an injury.

This is a big opportunity for Spurs to make it three wins in a row, for the first time in the Premier League this season. Let's not have another "Spursy" game like in the humiliating reverse fixture at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

If there’s one thing Tottenham can be proud of, it’s their young stars, who continue to prove their importance to the team.

Despite their age, Spurs’ youngsters stand out thanks to the opportunities and trust given to them by manager Ange Postecoglou.

One such player is Archie Gray, who has earned Postecoglou’s confidence due to his versatility.

Another example is Yang Min-Hyeok, the South Korean currently on loan at QPR and, among the many young talents shining in Postecoglou’s squad is Swedish midfielder Lucas Bergvall.

Lucas Bergvall has earned the full trust of Ange Postecoglou

Speaking ahead of Tottenham’s match against Ipswich tomorrow, the manager revealed that he had considered sending Lucas Bergvall out on loan but ultimately decided against it.

When asked if he trusted young players like Gray and Bergvall, he told Football London:

"Yeah, I’m not sure about trust. I mean, I really thought that guys like Lucas and Archie could definitely contribute.

"That’s why we kept them. We made a decision because there was an option, particularly with Lucas, to loan him out, and I really felt working through pre-season that Archie and Lucas could definitely contribute to us.”

The manager also spoke about another one of his young players, Djed Spence: "I think with Djed, it was just we wanted to give Jed every opportunity and, you know, we knew that certainly there was a player there, but a lot of it had to be up to Djed himself."

The big decision to keep him rather than send him on loan

It’s clear that Ange Postecoglou has placed his full confidence in Lucas Bergvall, and the decision has paid off.

With senior players sidelined due to injury, the younger talents have stepped up and taken on key roles in the squad.

But once the injured players return, will they be pushed aside or finally sent out on loan to gain experience elsewhere?

This season, Lucas Bergvall has made 33 appearances, contributing 1 goal and 2 assists across all competitions.

For now, Tottenham Hotspur must continue fighting to climb the Premier League table. They currently sit 12th, while their opponents tomorrow, Ipswich, are down in 18th.

The talent of Tottenham’s players will never go unnoticed.

The Spurs are increasingly recognised for integrating young rising stars into their squad, particularly into the first team.

Clear examples are the club’s newest additions, such as Mason Melia and Mathys Tel, who agreed to join due to the opportunities given to young players.

Another prime example of a young star is Lucas Bergvall, the Swedish midfielder who plays as a central midfielder or pivot for Tottenham and has long been praised by analysts.

And, without a doubt, we cannot forget the fan-favourite young star, Archie Gray.

Ange Postecoglou clarifies Archie Gray’s role

Archie Gray is an 18-year-old who previously played for Leeds United and is now at Tottenham and, since joining the club, Gray has played several matches as a makeshift defender for Spurs.

Due to injuries suffered by key centre-backs like Cristian Romero, the team’s manager has been forced to experiment, placing the young player in different roles.

Ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League match against Ipswich, manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the question on everyone’s mind—will we see Archie Gray in midfield?

Speaking to Football London, the Australian coach said: "The way it's going, never, mate. You know, I was tempted to put him in goal because we were down a fifth goalkeeper.

"I think the experience he's had this year is going to be outstanding for him and outstanding for us," Postecoglou explained.

"He's taken on every challenge we've thrown at him, not flustered, got on with it, performed at a really good level, contributed to the team all as an 18-year-old in his first year in the Premier League."

Injured players return to ease the pressure on others

For now, it doesn’t seem like the manager is in a rush to push Archie Gray into such a demanding role without first giving the young Englishman time to refine his skills and technique.

Let’s not forget that, albeit gradually, injured players are returning to the pitch.

We recently reported that Cristian Romero is still recovering from his quadriceps injury. Since it’s a tricky injury, he needs to take his time to fully heal.

However, he is expected to return to the squad soon, easing the pressure on Gray.

We’ll see how the 18-year-old contributes in tomorrow’s match, and we'll continue to trust that he will make an even greater impact in games, playing with the same confidence that defines him.

After a season filled with setbacks, Tottenham are once again preparing to compete in the Premier League.

Tottenham Hotspur secured a 1-0 victory against Manchester United last Sunday. This win has reignited hope among the club’s supporters—could this finally be the end of their streak of defeats?

Spurs are known for many things, including their young talents, who continue to impress with their performances.

One such example is Jamie Donley, the young Spurs player currently on loan at Leyton Orient, where he recently spoke about how well things have been going for him.

Another rising star is new signing Mathys Tel, who arrived from Bayern Munich, drawn by the fact that the North London club actively integrates young players into the first team.

But aside from valuing their young footballers, Tottenham also honour their more experienced players, and one standout figure is Sweden international Dejan Kulusevski.

Dejan Kulusevski has been a standout performer for Tottenham

Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has given his score prediction for tomorrow’s clash between Ipswich Town and Tottenham.

Redknapp expects Spurs to secure a convincing win, and speaking to BetVictor Casino (h/t The Spurs Web), he said:

"Tottenham got a vital win over Manchester United, but I’ve got to be honest, it was hardly a classic. At this stage, wins are all that matter for Spurs but they’re a long way off those European positions.

"I think Spurs will just have too much, but Ipswich will give them a real game here," he said. "One to watch – I think Dejan Kulusevski has been Spurs’ best player this season by a country mile. Most of the good things they do come through him.”

How do both teams compare ahead of the match

Dejan Kulusevski has undoubtedly been one of Tottenham’s standout players, and it’s no surprise he’s receiving so much recognition.

The media and analysts have praised him, and rightfully so—this season, he has played 44 matches, contributing 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.

Now, Tottenham currently sit 12th in the Premier League table. While the season hasn’t gone as they had hoped, there is optimism that things will improve as injured players gradually return.

Meanwhile, Ipswich find themselves in a far less favourable position, sitting 18th in the standings. To make matters worse, they have yet to secure a single Premier League victory since the start of the year.

All we can do as supporters is stand by the North London club and continue backing them as they push for a strong comeback in the Premier.

Friday afternoon at midday saw the Round of sixteen draw take place after the completion of last night's play-off ties, that saw the sides that finished from 9th-24th face off for a match up against one of the top eight. Spurs were part of this top eight and therefore earned themselves some well needed rest from the busy schedule they were having to deal with.

Ange Postecoglou would have been delighted with how the league phase went in the Europa League, as the Lilywhites picked up seventeen points from a possible twenty four, winning five, drawing two and losing just the one, to Galatasaray back in November.

After the draw was made this lunchtime, it was revealed that the North Londoners would be meeting some very familiar opposition in the next round, as it was Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar who were pulled out of the pot. The sides have already met each other in this campaign's competition, where a 53rd minute penalty was converted by Brazilian striker Richarlison proved to be the difference between the two teams. AZ however did finish the game with ten men when David Moeller Wolfe was sent off for a second bookable offence with five minutes of normal time remaining.

The Dutch club overcame the only side that beat Spurs in the league phase, Galatasaray, as mentioned above. They cruised to an easy 4-1 win at home in the first leg and then played out a 2-2 draw in Istanbul last night. Obviously football doesn't work like that, but Spurs will be weary of Alkmaar's qualities. They have experience in going deep into the latter stages of Europe, reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2023, albeit losing to eventual winners and Spurs' London rivals West Ham United.

Which players should Spurs watch out for?

Alkmaar have an exciting squad filled with some talented individuals, and they could definitely cause the side from N17 some damage, especially in front of their fans at the AFAS Stadion. One player Spurs should be weary of is familiar face Troy Parrott, who came through the club's academy before being permanently sold to the Dutch side in the summer. The Irishman caught the eye of the club when he impressed at fellow Eredivisie team Excelsior last campaign, scoring ten goals despite the side being relegated to the second tier of Dutch football. He has also netted four times and got an assist in this years Europa League proving to be a reliable goal scorer for Maarten Martens' side.

Sven Mijnans has also impressed for Alkmaar this season, who just like Parrott has scored four goals and got a further assist in the competition so far, including a stunning left footed free kick in the win against Galatasaray last week, so Spurs will not want to give any dangerous set pieces away from shooting range. The 24-year-old creative midfielder has been a very consistent part of the team this season, starting all but one of Alkmaar's league and Europa League games, with the only one he didn't feature in the starting eleven was last night's draw in Turkey when the tie was effectively over anyway.

The games will take place on the 6th and 13th of March, with the Dutch outfit being at home first before a second leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in which should be a really interesting tie with the game very much in the balance. Spurs will be favourites for this match up but we all know football isn't played on paper and Ange will know his side will have to be at their best.

The winner of the tie will be met in the quarter-finals by another Dutch club in Ajax or 2022 winners Eintracht Frankfurt. Again, two very good teams proving that their is no hiding place at this stage of the tournament, every match up is going to be tough.

Tottenham prepare for their upcoming clash against Ipswich FC and, amidst their preparations, the news keeps coming.

As we recently reported, the real reason behind French forward Mathys Tel’s decision to join Tottenham has been revealed.

Meanwhile, on the injury front, an update has emerged regarding when defender Cristian Romero is expected to return to action.

So, while key Tottenham players battle through serious injuries and gradually make their way back, the light at the end of the tunnel seems further away than anticipated.

Dominic Solanke sidelined indefinitely until March

Speaking exclusively to Tottenham News, sports injury specialist Dr Rajpal Brar shared his verdict on Dominic Solanke’s injury and recovery:

"Based on the mechanism of the injury, knee twisting per , this sounds like either a Grade 2 ligament injury or a meniscus injury," he explained.

“Initially, it sounded like would’ve been back in training by mid-February but he’s now set to be out longer than expected initially and does not seem likely to return until March."

The Spurs forward was ruled out for approximately six weeks after twisting his knee during a training session.

Dominic Solanke sustained the injury while attempting a shot on goal, with Ange Postecoglou describing it as an unfortunate and unexpected incident.

The unexpected knee injury causing concern

Dominic Solanke's absence has undoubtedly left a noticeable void within the Spurs squad.

Unfortunately, as Postecoglou pointed out, it was a freak injury—something that simply happened, reinforcing the unpredictable nature of football.

Speaking to SPURSPLAY, Postecoglou reflected: "It wasn't like it was even a challenge. It was just him trying to shoot and twisting his knee.

"It's just one of those things that, unfortunately, we're going through at the moment."

For now, Dominic Solanke will need to take the necessary time to recover before rejoining the first team, while Tottenham must push through with the players who are gradually returning to action.

Despite the rumours circulating in the media a few weeks ago, Mathys Tel has been enjoying his time at Tottenham.

The young French striker joined Spurs during the last winter transfer window after a competitive race for his signature, which the club ultimately won.

In addition to Tel, it was also revealed that Tottenham made some last-minute moves to secure Mexican forward Santiago Gimenez. However, the international had already given his word to AC Milan.

Another player Spurs tried to sign, this time from AC Milan, was Fikayo Tomori. The club has long been interested in recruiting him, but the defender was not keen on making the switch.

With this in mind, Tottenham secured the talents of Mathys Tel, adding him to their growing list of young prospects.

Tottenham continue to invest in rising young talents

Yesterday, The Athletic revealed a key piece of information—the decisive factor behind Mathys Tel’s decision to join the club.

According to the outlet, the North London side provides excellent opportunities for young talents to break into the first team.

Reports suggest that the former Bayern Munich player has praised the fact that Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou is not shy about playing teenagers, which convinced him that joining the club could offer him a key role.

The same outlet also reported that Mason Melia, a young talent set to join the club in 2026, chose Tottenham for the same reason.

Mathys Tel set to make an impact on Spurs in the future

Mathys Tel has already made one appearance for Spurs, with media outlets rating him as a promising young prospect.

In last Sunday’s match against Manchester United, Mathys Tel was given a rating of 5/10. The Frenchman showed promising movement, but his final product lacked a bit in this match.

Although he missed some goal-scoring and passing opportunities, he is expected to develop into a valuable addition to the squad over time.

Tel was also briefly involved in a minor controversy, with rumours suggesting that the 19-year-old had rejected the club.

However, Ange Postecoglou dismissed these claims, explaining that Tel was simply concerned about his future.

Given his young age, it was only natural for him to consider all available options.

Injuries have come and gone throughout this season at Tottenham Hotspur.

Unfortunately, that’s the reality—Spurs have long struggled with the fitness of their players.

But before diving into that topic, here’s a quick recap of some recent news surrounding the club.

Regarding transfers, Tottenham have been linked with several players ahead of the summer transfer window, one of them being Lille midfielder Angel Gomes.

Another potential target is Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, especially if the club can take advantage of Randal Kolo Muani’s situation.

Finally, reports have emerged suggesting that Daniel Levy is unwilling to step away from the club, even if a new Qatari partner acquires a stake in it.

Now, moving on to injuries, a new report has shed light on Cristian Romero’s situation.

Cristian Romero continues his recovery from injury

As we know, Romero has been sidelined for a long time at Tottenham, leaving fans concerned about his return to the pitch, as his presence has certainly been missed.

Dr Rajpal Brar, an injury expert and sports scientist, has provided an explanation as to why the defender’s recovery has taken so long.

Brar emphasised that quadriceps injuries are difficult to manage because they are highly demanding muscles.

In this context, it’s clear why Tottenham have not rushed Romero’s recovery, and it is unlikely that the Argentine will be back for a few more weeks.

Speaking to Tottenham News, Brar said: "What makes this tricky is the area of the injury – the quadriceps, there are a lot of demands on these muscles plus depending on the specifics, can also be involved in hip flexion.

"The club medics will be progressing him methodically through strength and conditioning while carefully monitoring how he responds. I still see him being out for a few weeks."

Are the club’s issues physical or psychological?

Previously, when discussing Tottenham’s injury issues, some questioned whether they could be more psychological than physical.

At least, that’s what former goalkeeper Ben Foster suggested. He explained: "Players want to be injured. Players prefer to be injured because then they’re out of the firing line, and then it’s nothing to do with them."

But are they faking it? In our view, the players are not pretending, and it would not be wise to force them back onto the pitch if they are not fully fit.

Let’s not forget Spurs’ other defender, Micky van de Ven, who briefly returned last month before suffering another setback after being rushed back into training before fully recovering.

This only reinforces Dr Rajpal Brar’s point—rushing players back before they are fully recovered is detrimental both to them and to the team.

A team that, by the way, is currently enduring a losing streak, leaving both players and fans in a state of frustration and disappointment.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has had a nightmare season so far. After a solid first season, with a fifth-place finish in the league, the Australian manager showcased to Spurs fans how he likes to play football. With a nonstopping press and offensive approach, the Spurs fanbase finally seemed to have found the attacking philosophy that has always been the club's favorite brand of football. However, the Australian manager has been having a challenging second year at the helm.

In-Depth Analysis: Has Ange given up on his principles?

With an injury crisis worse than in his previous year, Big Ange has been having a difficult time finding consistency under Spurs, especially with a full calendar and matches every three days. It is also fair to say that inconsistency was a common word in Spurs' vocabulary, mainly due to last season's second half and a few setbacks with a nearly full-fitted squad, like against Brighton and Crystal Palace. Therefore, Ange has always had issues finding consistency, and injuries only made it more complicated.

In the most recent run of Spurs matches, there was an aspect that worried me more than the defeats and performances on their own. The problem was how we played, which was far apart from what Ange always praised in his style. The notably known "Ange Ball" was nowhere to be seen in the past few weeks, with Spurs 'parking the bus' at times and giving up possession against opponents.

For instance, Spurs played a mid-to-low block approach against Brentford with exponential moments of higher press. It worked on that occasion, with the Spurs getting the three points with an own goal on a corner and a Pape Matar Sarr counter-attack score at the end. However, the reciprocate was not true against Liverpool and Aston Villa, two matches in which Spurs lost in all fairness. Liverpool, in particular, Ange's Tottenham Hotspur played an unrecognizable and cowardly match.

In that context, it is entirely understandable the fans' frustrations toward the Australian. Besides the season's terrible results so far, that frustration also comes from the fact that Spurs are not playing the offensive and highly entertaining football that Ange promised. Even if the argument was to play a more pragmatic approach to guarantee results amidst an injury crisis — an utterly fair point — the results are also not coming to fruition either.

Now, with less competition due to the recent cup eliminations, Ange has had more time and free weeks to recover his players. Against Machester United last weekend, the Spurs gave a small but significant sample to show that the Ange Ball was still a thing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A so-needed home win against United also came aside a performance worth Ange's original standards for the club, which is relieving.

Therefore, I don't believe Ange has abandoned his principles, and I am not entirely opposed to his occasional strategic changes. However, I do believe he has to find the proper balance in his approach with each opponent without necessarily neglecting his core principles. After all, this is not the first time this inconsistency has happened, and Spurs sometimes look like a club with the most significant gap between their floor and ceiling in the whole league.

I still do believe in Ange for the future, and hopefully, with better recruiting and more tactical tweaks along the way, maybe the Spurs can find a solution to close that gap. There is still a long season ahead, but if the club truly believes in Ange's philosophy, they will give him time and tools to turn this mess of a season around in the Prem and the Europa League.

Ange screams the good, the bad, and the ugly of what it means to be Spurs, which might be exactly what the club needs to dare to do.

While Tottenham's focus remains on their recent victory over Manchester United, transfer rumours continue to surface.

Spurs are often at the centre of multiple transfer speculations in major media outlets.

We recently reported that Newcastle are looking to derail Tottenham's summer plans by beating them to the signing of Bryan Mbeumo.

Additionally, we informed you that Tottenham Hotspur are targeting a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens this summer.

For now, however, let’s focus on a report suggesting that PSG could actually help Spurs this summer.

Randal Kolo Muani could stay at Juventus, opening the door for Dusan Vlahovic to join Tottenham

Not long ago, we reported that Tottenham were in a good position to sign Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus, especially given Randal Kolo Muani's impressive form in Italy.

Now, according to Calciomercato (h/t Parisinos.net), PSG are willing to accept a bid in the region of €50 million for Kolo Muani, far lower than their initial €95 million valuation.

This would pave the way for Juventus to sign Kolo Muani permanently, which in turn would open the door for Vlahovic to leave, potentially bringing him closer to Tottenham.

This season in the Champions League, Vlahovic has scored four goals and provided one assist in six starts.

Meanwhile, in Serie A, he has nine goal involvements in 16 starts, scoring eight goals and assisting once. So, despite Kolo Muani's rise, the Serbian striker continues to perform at a high level.

Dusan Vlahovic could be a better heir to Harry Kane than Dominic Solanke

Many Tottenham fans hoped that the arrival of Dominic Solanke would finally fill the void left by Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich.

However, while the English forward has performed well, he has fallen short of the massive expectations placed upon him.

Vlahovic could be a more suitable successor to Kane than Solanke, given their playing styles.

Although Dominic Solanke impressed in the Championship, he has never reached Vlahovic’s level in a top-five European league such as the Premier League or Serie A.

Tottenham can certainly succeed with Solanke, but having both strikers competing would be a fantastic scenario for the club.