Tottenham Hotspur are set to announce Roberto De Zerbi as their next permanent manager, and he has seven games to save the club's Premier League status.
Spurs currently sit just one point above the relegation zone following their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the international break, and the Italian will take charge of the team for the first time when they return from that break on April 12th for a huge clash against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Injuries have been a major problem for the north London club this season, while a host of players have been underperforming from the level of quality they are known to have. So who will De Zerbi be calling upon in his first starting lineup for the game? GIVEMESPORT has had a look at the lay of the land.
Kinsky Redemption Arc?
While Guglielmo Vicario will undoubtedly be the first-choice goalkeeper under De Zerbi for the battle against the drop, the Italian has undergone surgery for a hernia problem and is likely to miss the game against Sunderland as he continues his recovery.
That should see Antonin Kinsky restored to the lineup for the first time since his horror show in Madrid against Atletico earlier this month, which saw him substituted at 3-0 down after just 17 minutes.
In front of his is likely to be a back four, and De Zerbi will likely go with a unit that is more familiar. Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven will almost certainly start in central defence, despite the decent form of Kevin Danso, while Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie should get the nod at full-back, with Djed Spence dropping out of the side as a result.
Bravery or Stupidity in Midfield?
De Zerbi has never been afraid of using young players, but with Tottenham's precarious position currently, it would certainly be a risk to go with it.
However, Archie Gray has made himself undroppable in recent weeks with his performances and should get the nod in his natural midfield role. The position to partner him is up for grabs, though. Joao Palhinha provides experience and defensive stability, while Lucas Bergvall is fit once again and could also slot in to provide more of an attacking threat. There is also hope that Rodrigo Bentancur could return from injury, adding another option into the mix.
Ahead of them, De Zerbi likes to have a number ten who can dictate games, and Xavi Simons deserves his spot in the side in his preferred role.
Kudus Returns, Kolo Muani Dropped
The attack has been the biggest issue for Spurs this season, having scored just 40 goals in their 31 games so far. But De Zerbi is expected to be able to call upon Ghana star Mohammed Kudus for this game, who has been missing with a quadriceps injury since January.
Alongside the 25-year-old, Mathys Tel has been the best-performing forward on the left wing despite the poor form of the team, and the young Frenchman should keep his starting spot if fit, having withdrawn from international duty with the France Under-21's.
Up front, Richarlison is the club's top scorer but Dominic Solanke has usually been the first-choice option. The Brazilian seems more likely to get the nod because of his ability to press, while Randal Kolo Muani, who got a 1/10 rating against Atletico Madrid, is almost certain to find himself on the bench.
Predicted Tottenham XI vs Sunderland for De Zerbi's first game:
Kinsky; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Gray, Palhinha; Kudus, Simons, Tel; Richarlison.