For once, Tottenham Hotspur will take on a team, in Manchester United, who are more banged up than they are. That has been a very rare occurence in the recent years for Spurs. The north London side have two fresh injury concerns, coming off the elongated international break, in Dutch defenders Micky van de Ven (finger) and Jan Paul van Hecke (foot). Both are in the doubts after picking up injuries on international duty with the Netherlands.
Man United vs Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Kickoff: Sat. Oct. 10, 5:30, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK
Team News: Tottenham Hotspur United
Detailed Injury Reports: Tottenham United Part 1 United Part 2
Predicted Starting XIs: Tottenham United
Google Result Probability: Tottenham win 22% United win 56% Draw 22%
PL Form, Position: Tottenham LLDDL, 2 pts, 20th Man United LWDLD, 5 pts, 12th
Tottenham Team News
Compounding the injury concerns in the back line is Pedro Porro (thigh), who is still not ready to return. Also remaining sidelined, as longer-term injuries for Spurs are:
Dejan Kulusevski (building up to match fitness levels, after recovering from a serious knee injury), Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert (they also both have knee injuries) and summer signing Mykhaylo Mudryk (ankle).
All in all however, this is the most fit squad that manager Roberto de Zerbi has had during his very short tenure at Spurs.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.