Tottenham are chasing their fifth win on the bounce in all competitions when they take on Ferencvaros on Matchday 2 of their Europa League campaign on Thursday evening.
After enduring back-to-back defeats either side of the September international break, Ange Postecoglou’s seat in N17 started to get a little bit warm. However, Spurs have since backed up impressive performances with results and their win at Manchester United on Sunday was arguably their finest of the Postecoglou era thus far.
Many regard the Europa League as a competition Spurs should harbour great hopes of winning. The bookies have them as favourites and they will benefit from UEFA’s format change which means no Champions League teams will drop into the competition.
A trip to Eastern Europe is next on the horizon for a confident Lilywhite squad and here’s the team Postecoglou could pick for Thursday’s outing.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – Vicario was hugely responsible for Tottenham’s win over Qarabag last week and the Italian should earn the bulk of the minutes in this competition throughout the league phase.
RB: Archie Gray – The teenager has featured sporadically in the Premier League so far, but he was excellent on Matchday 1 and will come back into the team in Budapest.
CB: Cristian Romero – Suspended last time out, Romero is eligible to return and will replace Radu Dragusin in Postecoglou’s Europa League XI after the Romania international was sent off against Qarabag.
CB: Micky van de Ven – You do fear for his hamstrings, but at least Van de Ven earned a bit of respite at the weekend after going full Jan Vertonghen (with a bit more power) in the opening minutes at Old Trafford on Sunday.
LB: Ben Davies – Djed Spence’s exclusion from the Europa League squad leaves Postecoglou short-handed. With Destiny Udogie picking up a knock, Davies should start and will likely captain the team.
CM: Yves Bissouma – Rodrigo Bentancur is back to his very best and Bissouma has his work cut out if he’s to return to Postecoglou’s preferred XI. The Mali international will be keen to impress in Budapest.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr – Sarr’s energy was crucial against Qarabag when the hosts were reduced to ten and his flick-on allowed Dominic Solanke to pounce for Spurs’ third at the weekend.
CM: Lucas Bergvall – You reckon Bergvall’s going to be up for this one? After Dragusin ruined his night last Thursday, the young Swede must be champing at the bit to get out there on Matchday 2.
RW: Brennan Johnson – The red-hot Johnson scored again on Sunday, extending his streak to four games. Given that full 90s have escaped him during his impressive run, the Welsh winger could get another start on Thursday.
ST: Dominic Solanke – Solanke, like Johnson, is enjoying a rich vein of form after returning from injury. He’s Tottenham’s main man and has no competition for his place with Son Heung-min and Richarlison likely to miss out.
LW: Mikey Moore – Here you go, Tottenham fans, this is the one you’ve been waiting for. Teenager Moore is the club’s great young hope and is surely in contention to make his first competitive start for Spurs against Ferencvaros.
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