Tottenham has the chance to make a real statement on Friday night with a win over Man City in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Ange Postecoglou and his team couldn’t ask for a tougher game, so they will have to show their best to beat the current holders.
Although Spurs will once again have to bid farewell to Pape Matar Sarr, Yves Bissouma, and Son Heung-Min due to international commitments, things seem to be improving at the club, at least in the injury department. Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur returned to the pitch early to make their comebacks for Spurs, while Micky van de Ven returned against Manchester United after a two-month break.
Everyone connected with the club is hoping that there will be positive news regarding James Maddison before the FA Cup match. Postecoglou recently mentioned that his player could return to first-team training between the two Manchester matches, and Maddison himself recently excited fans with a picture of his football boots on his Instagram stories.
If the England international is indeed allowed to return, the Spurs boss will have to make a rather difficult decision about his squad for the Man City game. However, it’s a good headache of a choice.
How exactly could Tottenham take on Pep Guardiola’s men at Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night? Here, we take a look at the strongest team Postecoglou could line up for the FA Cup encounter, as it currently stands.
Guglielmo Vicario:
In the previous round against Burnley, Ange Postecoglou already made his stance on the FA Cup clear when he started Guglielmo Vicario. The Italian started in goal for Spurs as always.
Pedro Porro:
Tottenham will be hoping Pedro Porro can show some more magic in the FA Cup after his excellent goal against Burnley in the third round. A key player for Spurs this term, he could make a significant impact on this encounter.
Cristian Romero:
Cristian Romero made his last return for the game against Manchester United. In Son Heung-Min’s absence, he will be the Spurs captain again.
Micky van de Ven:
Micky van de Ven also returned from injury for the match at Old Trafford. A 12-day break will help the Dutchman after a two-month absence due to injury.
Destiny Udogie:
Destiny Udogie, like Pedro Porro, will be a key player for Tottenham at full-back.
Rodrigo Bentancur:
Rodrigo Bentancur is another player who will benefit from a break after an early return from injury. The Uruguayan will again play as a sixth man for the Lilywhites.
Oliver Skipp:
Oliver Skipp turned in an excellent performance in Spurs’ last game against Manchester United and is in a very good position to make a comeback.
James Maddison:
Given that Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur started on their return to the first team, albeit much earlier than expected, James Maddison could potentially do the same against Man City if he is in that position after his recent absence. That would give the home faithful a big boost ahead of the City encounter, just as it did on New Year’s Eve when Bentancur started against Bournemouth. Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff will be watching Maddison closely this week before making a final decision.
Dejan Kulusevski:
Dejan Kulusevski could return from illness on Tottenham’s right wing against Man City. If James Maddison starts the FA Cup duel, Kulusevski could return to the No.8 role towards the end of the game as his teammate will undoubtedly struggle to play the full game after two months out.
Richarlison:
The choice of who will start in the central role in the front three is straightforward, as Richarlison has been in good shooting form recently. Tottenham will be hoping to get his shooting boots back on as they look for a win against the league champions.
Brennan Johnson:
If Dejan Kulusevski returns to the top three, Ange Postecoglou will have to decide whether to drop Brennan Johnson or Timo Werner from the game. Johnson could possibly overtake January’s reinforcements this time around, but he needs to offer more in attack after his problems at Manchester United. Whoever drops to the bench will still be a very good option to include in the closing stages.