Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Tottenham Hotspur could line up for Boxing Day’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur can make his long-awaited domestic return when Spurs square off with Nottingham Forest in Thursday’s Premier League Boxing Day encounter.
The Uruguayan has completed a seven-game ban for making an offensive comment about Son Heung-min and South Koreans, but he has been earning minutes in the Europa League amid his FA suspension.
As a result, Bentancur should not be lacking match fitness and may come straight back into contention for a starting place at the City Ground, where Spurs will be without seven players once more.
Guglielmo Vicario (ankle), Cristian Romero (thigh), Micky van de Ven (hamstring), Mikey Moore (illness), Wilson Odobert (hamstring), Richarlison (thigh) and Ben Davies (thigh) are still absent, but Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Destiny Udogie is raring to go again.
The Italy international was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 6-3 loss to Liverpool following a recent knock but should now return to his familiar left-back role, potentially forcing Djed Spence down to the bench if Pedro Porro is retained.
A lack of central alternatives means that Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin will shield Fraser Forster once more, and Postecoglou should not be averse to partnering Bentancur with Lucas Bergvall, as Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma make way.
However, the attacking quartet of Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, James Maddison and Son Heung-min should remain untouched; the latter has six direct goal contributions on Boxing Day, the joint-most in Premier League history alongside Raheem Sterling and Mohamed Salah.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Forster; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Udogie; Bergvall, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke
> Click here to see how Forest could line up for this clash
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