Here's the Tottenham Hotspur team that we reckon Roberto De Zerbi will select to face Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday
Roberto De Zerbi will have his hand forced by Tottenham's latest batch of injuries but still has decisions to make as he picks his team to take on Aston Villa.
Spurs now have their Premier League destiny back in their own hands after West Ham's 3-0 defeat at Brentford on Saturday afternoon, but face a tough test at Villa, who sit fifth in the table. Tottenham will be hoping that their hosts will have to rotate for the game which is sandwiched between their Europa League semi-final legs against Nottingham Forest.
Villa's top five spot - bringing with it Champions League football next season - is almost assured with Brighton's defeat at Newcastle leaving Brentford now in sixth and seven points behind Unai Emery's side with three games to play. In that scenario, Villa might be forgiven for having one eye on their European second leg.
De Zerbi has already made it clear that whatever team their hosts put out it will be a strong one and he will have no Xavi Simons or Dominic Solanke to call upon after their injuries in the win at Wolves, making it eight unavailable players.
Having no Xavi means De Zerbi will have to go for width as the main creator for his team rather than any playmaker. The head coach suggested Mathys Tel was going to start and the young Frenchman could come into the side on the left wing with Randal Kolo Muani out on the right and Richarlison is likely to come in for Solanke.
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Lucas Bergvall will be hoping for a go in the number 10 role, but Conor Gallagher's work rate and experience has impressed the new Spurs boss.
De Zerbi told football.london that left-back Destiny Udogie could be back in contention but there's a chance he might stick with Djed Spence to start rather than throw the Italian straight back into the fray after his injury woes. Joao Palhinha netted an important goal on Saturday but De Zerbi could again stick with the pairing of Rodrigo Bentancur and Yves Bissouma for a third straight game in order to build a partnership there.
Guglielmo Vicario remains out which means another game between the sticks for Antonin Kinsky after his top drawer late save at Molineux last weekend.
Here's the Tottenham team we reckon De Zerbi could select to face Villa: