Ange Postecoglou has a huge call to make on Sunday when it comes to naming his Tottenham team to take on Chelsea. The Lilywhites are extremely limited in certain areas of the pitch right now, perhaps none more so than at centre-back.
Ben Davies became the latest player to join an already packed treatment room after sustaining a hamstring injury in Thursday’s defeat at Bournemouth. The Welshman joins Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in there at present, although there is the possibility that the World Cup winner could soon be back in the Tottenham matchday squad.
Radu Dragusin is guaranteed to start against Chelsea but it remains to be seen who will partner him. So what are the options available to Postecoglou?
Postecoglou offered a glimmer of hope in his pre-match press conference that Romero could possibly feature in this weekend’s game against Chelsea. Tottenham are desperate for a boost at centre-back and the return of the Argentine would be a huge lift for all if he is in a position to feature.
“Ben, too early again mate, he’ll go for a scan today, we’re talking 10 hours after last night’s game, so we’ll find out more,” he said when asked for the latest on Davies and Romero. “Cuti is due to train, we’re not doing much today but we’ll see how he goes tomorrow.”
So, it appears that Romero’s participation in the match may all depend on how he gets on in training on Saturday. Tottenham’s backline will certainly look a lot stronger if the World Cup winner takes his place in the team alongside Dragusin.
There was no mention of Van de Ven’s fitness in the head coach’s press conference, which seems to suggest that the Dutchman is not quite there just yet in regards to a first-team return.
If Romero is not in a position to play against Chelsea then it may result in Archie Gray starting at centre-back. The 18-year-old has extremely limited experience in the position, with his only game time there coming in a Tottenham shirt during pre-season and the games against Ferencvaros and Bournemouth.
It’s not an ideal situation, especially against free-scoring Chelsea, but Postecoglou may have no other choice but to start Gray at the heart of defence. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Australian said the teenager’s stint at centre-back “will do him the world of good”.
“He’ll be better for it,” explained the 59-year-old. “It was a good experience for him, it wasn’t easy, it was tough, particularly when we put him at centre-back but it will do him the world of good, make him a better player and a stronger personality for our football club.”
Tottenham were in a similar position 12 months ago as they had to try and cope without Romero and Van de Ven. That resulted in Postecoglou deploying full-backs Emerson Royal and Davies at centre-back rather than selecting Eric Dier in the position.
Spurs even went to the Etihad Stadium and left with a point following a 3-3 draw despite starting four full-backs in their backline. Amid possible doubts about Gray starting at centre-back against Chelsea if Romero is unavailable, Postecoglou could choose to move a full-back across to the middle of defence and keep the ex-Leeds United man at full-back.
Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie and Djed Spence are Tottenham’s current options at full-back, with Sergio Reguilon, who is out of favour under Postecoglou, another choice at left-back after taking his place on the bench at Bournemouth.
Postecoglou could opt turn to the academy in Tottenham’s hour of need. While it would be a major shock for one of the talented youngsters to come straight into the team for the London derby clash, there may well be a place on the substitutes’ bench for one of them.
There have been opportunities for a handful of academy aces in the Europa League squad so far this season. Malachi Hardy and Maeson King were both on the bench against Roma in last week’s 2-2 draw in N17, with Alfie Dorrington and Dante Cassanova in the matchday squad for last month’s defeat against Galatasaray in Istanbul.
Tottenham require a natural centre-back on the bench as things stand and that could possibly result in a call-up for one of the academy stars this weekend.
