With the majority of Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham squad away on international duty for the next week, numbers at first team training will be limited.
However, despite the bulk of his players away with their national sides, those remaining behind will have a point to prove to Mourinho about their claims for a first team spot.
Midfielder Dele Alli was once again omitted from Gareth Southgate’s England squad after racking up just 65 minutes of Premier League action this season.
The midfielder has been marginalised by Mourinho so far in 2020/21 but the Portuguese boss has insisted Alli’s absences have been based on tactics rather than performances.
He has challenged the 24-year old to do more when given a starting role and Alli has responded positively to the challenge.
The former MK Dons star has signed himself up for extra training at Enfield during the break and posted a pointed message of "Make Improvements. Not Excuses" on Instagram as a signal of his intent to get back into the Spurs starting XI.
Steven Bergwijn is another high-profile star remaining in the UK after withdrawing from Frank De Boer’s Netherlands squad.
Bergwijn exploded into life following his January move from PSV with two goals in his first four Premier League games as a Spurs player.
However, his form was patchy in the restarted 2019/20 season and he has struggled with minor injuries this season.
De Boer opted to call him up for this round of international fixtures, but he has since returned to London on medical advice .
Mourinho is confident he will be fit to face Manchester City in their return to action and with growing doubts over the fitness of Gareth Bale, Bergwijn has an opportunity to push for a starting spot if he can get back fit.
Brazilian striker Carlos Vinicius has been eased into Premier League life by Mourinho with the Benfica loanee only making his Premier League debut in last weekend’s 1-0 win at West Brom.
Mourinho has insisted he will handle the 25-year old’s acclimatisation with care as he looks to balance expectations.
However, with Harry Kane and Son Heung-min blocking his path into the starting team, Vinicius will be battling with Bale, Bergwijn and Lucas Moura for a starting spot.
But as Spurs move into a hectic run of games, Mourinho may be forced to rest Kane for certain matches, allowing Vinicius a chance in his favoured central role if he impresses during Kane’s absence with England.
Matt Doherty has firmly established himself as Mourinho’s first-choice at right back this season with the Republic of Ireland international starting six of Spurs’ eight Premier League games.
Ivory Coast Serge Aurier has slipped down the pecking order as a result of Doherty’s form with Mourinho opting for the former Wolves star’s solidity over Aurier.
Aurier’s error-prone performances at the back end of last season persuaded Mourinho to sign Doherty from Wolves, and he could now look to the U23 set up for a back-up option.
Dennis Cirkin has established a reputation as one of Spurs brightest underage prospects, with the England U19 international already joining first-team training this season.
Cirkin primarily operates at left back, but he has shown positional flexibility to switch flanks alongside Portuguese full back Marcel Lavinier, who also regularly alternates between right and left.
Mourinho looks to have lost patience with Aurier, and despite the inexperience of Cirkin and Lavinier, they could offer a more dependable deputy to Doherty than him.
