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Football London
Football London
Sport
Alasdair Gold

Expected Tottenham team to face Ajax: Pochettino to make 4 changes with problems on the bench

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino must get his team selection spot on for the club's first ever Champions League semi-final.

The Spurs boss is hampered by injuries, suspension and ineligibility for the game at the new stadium.

Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Serge Aurier and Erik Lamela are out injured, Son Heung-min is suspended and Vincent Janssen is not registered for European competition.

However, Moussa Sissoko and Jan Vertonghen were back in training on Monday and both were due to be assessed ahead of the first leg clash against Ajax.

Pochettino must make a decision on how many of his few attacking options he plays. If he plays both Lucas Moura and Fernando Llorente with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, then Spurs' entire bench will be made up of goalkeepers, defenders or defensive midfielders as there are no more fit or registered attacking players available.

The Spurs boss must also decide whether to return to a back three with the former Ajax trio of Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez and Vertonghen all coming up against their old team.

Pochettino press conference: Every word on Harry Kane returning, Daniel Levy in pyjamas and more 

There is also a decision to be made over whether Victor Wanyama or Eric Dier starts, or both. The two defensive midfielders have been alternating starts recently and that pattern would suggest it is the Kenyan's turn to start.

Here's the team we reckon Pochettino will pick:

(3-4-2-1) Lloris; Alderweireld, Sanchez, Vertonghen; Trippier, Sissoko, Wanyama, Rose; Alli, Eriksen; Lucas.

Pochettino press conference: Every word on Harry Kane returning, Daniel Levy in pyjamas and more

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