The new Tottenham head coach will begin his tenure with the Premier League game at Sunderland and must choose what his first starting XI will look like
Roberto De Zerbi has nine days to decide what his first Tottenham starting line-up will look like in next weekend's game against Sunderland.
The Italian was confirmed as the club's new head coach this week after signing a big money five-year deal with the challenge of keeping Spurs in the Premier League while also being in it for the long haul beyond that. De Zerbi admitted that he will manage Tottenham next season regardless of what happens in the seven matches ahead.
So who will get the nod for his opening game in the dugout as the Spurs boss? The 46-year-old will first look to the treatment room and see which injured stars are closest to returning with Mohammed Kudus and Rodrigo Bentancur previously tipped as the next two to get back out on the Hotspur Way pitches by his predecessor Igor Tudor.
While the prospect of getting Kudus back into the team and creating some magic up front for a Spurs team lacking goals will be tempting, De Zerbi might just want to be careful with the Ghana attacker and have him on the bench to ensure he has him for the entire run-in after almost three months out.
One player he will have to get back into the starting line-up is playmaker Xavi Simons, who was marginalised somewhat under Tudor. The Dutchman has created more chances this season at Tottenham than anyone else.
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De Zerbi sometimes goes with a back three but mainly plays with a 4-2-3-1 which would suit Xavi and in defence, the new boss could go for his compatriot Destiny Udogie to bring some balance to the back four.
He will have plenty of midfield options with the experience of Joao Palhinha and winter signing Conor Gallagher and the youthful energy of Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Pape Matar had a shoulder injury on international duty with Senegal but hopefully will have enough time to recover.
In the attacking slots, Mathys Tel, Dominic Solanke, Richarlison and Randal Kolo Muani will all want to start while in goal much will depend on Guglielmo Vicario's recovery from his hernia surgery.
Barring any unexpected international break injuries, here's the team we reckon De Zerbi might select for his first game as Spurs head coach: