The latest Tottenham Hotspur team news and predicted XI ahead of the FA Cup third round clash with Aston Villa.
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Thomas Frank’s out-of-sorts Tottenham Hotspur side face a tough assignment in the FA Cup third round this weekend when they welcome high-flying Aston Villa to north London – and the challenge will be made all the harder by a number of injury worries.
Midfielders Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall were both taken off with injuries during the dramatic midweek defeat to Bournemouth and should they be ruled out for the game against Villa, the they could be among as many as nine absentees.
Ahead of Saturday’s match, we’ve collected all of the latest team news below, with updates on the condition of long-term injury victims such as Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski along with our prediction for Frank’s starting XI.
How bad are the injuries to Spurs’ Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall?
The biggest concern following Spurs’ 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth on Wednesday was perhaps not the result but the health of Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who had to be substituted just before the 90-minute mark in evident discomfort.
Unfortunately, Frank confirmed on Thursday that the 28-year-old had suffered a hamstring injury that he was described as a “bigger one,” with the length of time that he would be sidelined to be determined later. As it stands, it seems likely that Bentancur is set for a significant layoff.
Fellow midfielder Lucas Bergvall also had to be withdrawn in the second half through injury, but although Frank declined to disclose the nature of the issue the prognosis did not sound quite so bleak – the young Swede will be assessed ahead of the game against Aston Villa and may feature.
With Bentancur out and Bergvall a doubt, Spurs’ midfield options will be severely restricted while they also wait for Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma to return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Their respective nations go head-to-head in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the player on the losing side available to face West Ham next weekend – although Bissouma is unlikely to be considered for selection for disciplinary reasons.
Frank also provided an update on the availability of summer signing Mohammed Kudus on Thursday, after the winger suffered a quadriceps injury during the recent 1-1 draw with Sunderland. The Ghanaian will, sadly, be sidelined for up to three months, with Frank hoping to have him back following the March international break.
When will Destiny Udogie, Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski be back for Spurs?
There was better news concerning the fitness of Italian full-back Destiny Udogie, who has been out for five weeks with a hamstring injury – he is said to be “getting closer” to being involved, although this weekend’s match sounds like it will come too soon.
Frank also provided fresh updates on the status of long-term absentees Dominic Solanke and Dejan Kulusevski, who have been stuck on the sidelines for an extended period after respective ankle and ACL injuries.
Solanke was said to be “positive and improving” but slightly behind Udogie in his recovery, suggesting that the striker will finally be back in the fold around the end of January. Kulusevski’s return, however, has been delayed after expectations that he would be back in action over the festive period.
According to Frank, the Swedish winger’s injury is “complicated” and he has recently had an injection to manage the pain in his knee. Frank said that Spurs will know whether his knee has settled in “three to four weeks,” suggesting that he will be back by February at the earliest.
There are no further updates on fellow ACL victim James Maddison, who may not feature this season as he goes through the rehabilitation process.