Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Football London
Football London
Sport
Rob Guest

How Tottenham could start on the opening day of the 2020/21 season with Jack Clarke in the side

Tottenham fans will have to wait another 12 months to see Jack Clarke in action despite joining the Lilywhites from Leeds United on Tuesday.

The winger made a huge impression in his debut season in the Championship and Spurs ensured that he will be playing football in north London over the coming years after giving him a four-year contract.

However, the 18-year-old will return to Elland Road on loan for the whole of next campaign as he looks to get some more first-team football under his belt.

Mauricio Pochettino does prefer to keep younger players at the club so they can learn from him, yet the fact that Marcelo Bielsa is Leeds boss has played a big part in why he will spend the season away from N17.

Spurs will hope that Clarke is ready to hit the ground running upon his return next summer as he bids to make a name for himself in the Premier League.

So, how could Spurs start on the opening day of the 2020/21 season with the winger in the starting XI?

Here we take a look into the future...

Hugo Lloris will once again remain in net for Spurs but there will be changes in defence.

Jack Clarke tries to find a way past Rico Henry at Griffin Park (Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Amid the previous struggles of Kieran Trippier and Serge Aurier at right-back, Pochettino lured Max Aarons to the club after an impressive season in the top flight with Norwich City

Jan Vertonghen, who extended his contract with the club by a further year, partners Davinson Sanchez at the back, with Ryan Sessegnon now the club's first-choice left-back after a strong first year at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Tanguy Ndombele, who also excelled in his first season at the club, is partnered once again by Harry Winks in the middle of the park despite the options at the manager's disposal.

Clarke is then handed his full Spurs debut on the right wing after playing a major part in Leeds United's success under Bielsa, with Dele Alli and Son Heung-min starting just behind Harry Kane in attack.

Unfortunately there's no place for Giovani Lo Celso in the Spurs squad as he's away representing his country at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Spurs starting XI on the opening day of the 2020/21 season: Lloris; Aarons, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Sessegnon; Ndombele, Winks; Clarke, Alli, Son; Kane.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.