Ange Postecoglou started the season with a bang for Spurs, winning Premier League Manager of the Month for August, September and October.
But if there was one misstep he made in that impressive opening period, it was to get a weakened team into the Carabao Cup. Fulham took advantage of this and eliminated Spurs after penalty kicks.
With no silverware since 2008, Tottenham cannot afford to miss out on any opportunity and Fulham showed that the door is open in this competition by reaching the semi-finals.
Postecoglou will surely have learned his lesson, although injuries and the departure of Son Heung-Min for the Asian Cup will prevent the Australian from sending his first eleven.
Ange Postecoglou, on the other hand, could welcome back Micky van de Ven for Tottenham’s FA Cup third round match against Burnley at home on Friday.
The Dutch central defender has trained with the first team for three days and is expected to be in the squad for the game.
Postecoglou said on Thursday that he had not yet decided on the extent of the participation of the 22-year-old, who has been out for two months with a pulled thigh muscle suffered in the defeat to Chelsea on November 6.
Postecoglou made a big change to the team in the Carabao Cup match against Fulham in August, although he has little chance of making big changes against the Clarets given Spurs’ ongoing injury problems and the absence of Heungmin Son, Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr in international tournaments.
Oliver Skipp and Bryan Gil are in contention for rare starts, while full-backs Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie may need a rest.
Alejo Veliz is the latest to pick up an injury after going off on New Year’s Eve against Bournemouth, joining James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon on the sidelines.
Tottenham’s starting eleven (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Emerson, Van de Ven, Davies, Udogie; Skipp, Bentancur; Johnson, Lo Celso, Kulusevski; Richarlison
Injured: Romero, Maddison, Perisic, Solomon, Sessegnon, Veliz
Doubt: Van de Ven
Unavailable: Son, Bissouma, Sarr