Substitutions have proved key in two of Tottenham's three Premier League games so far this term.
Trailing 1-0 against Aston Villa on the opening weekend of the season following John McGinn's low strike, Mauricio Pochettino introduced Christian Eriksen and the Dane turned the match in Spurs' favour as they ran out 3-1 winners.
The following week Lucas Moura's introduction at Man City proved key as he made it 2-2 with his first touch of the ball seconds after replacing Harry Winks at the Etihad Stadium.
Spurs once again needed substitutes to change the game last Sunday against Newcastle United but they unfortunately didn't have the desired effect.
Eriksen and Giovani Lo Celso were both introduced but the visitors remained strong at the back and made sure there was no way through for Tottenham.
While substitutes have made a huge impact in two of the first three games, what has been noticeable so far is the lack of attacking options available to Pochettino on the bench if he does need to try and turn the game in Spurs' favour.
Eriksen and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou were the only two attack-minded substitutes against Aston Villa, with Lo Celso and Lucas Moura the same for the trip to Manchester.
It was then Lo Celso and Eriksen on the bench again against Newcastle as Pochettino resisted the temptation of naming Troy Parrott in his squad despite scoring goals for fun for the club's youngsters over the past 12 months.
A look at some of last weekend's fixtures involving the club's top-six rivals highlights the difference on the substitutes' bench at present.
Four out of Liverpool's seven substitutes were attacking options for their 3-1 win over Arsenal, with the Gunners themselves having three different choices going forward.
Chelsea also would have had four for their entertaining 3-2 win at Norwich City, yet Pedro's injury prior to kick-off meant Frank Lampard only had Willian, Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud available to him if needed.
Injuries and suspension have played their part in the past two weeks for Tottenham as Dele Alli and Son Heung-min have both missed out, but Fernando Llorente's summer exit and the failed deadline day move for Paulo Dybala has meant that Pochettino has gone without a forward on the bench for all three games so far.
It's not ideal as Spurs could do with a different option on the bench and it's something that could prove costly come May.
The return of Alli and potentially Tanguy Ndombele this weekend does mean that the Spurs bench should be a lot stronger given the manager will have a selection decision to make over the likes of Son, Lucas, Eriksen and Erik Lamela as he can't fit them all in his team.
Pochettino could also spring a surprise by including Parrott in his 18-man squad given the lack of players on the bench at present who can turn a game in Spurs' favour if things aren't going as planned.
Ryan Sessegnon's return from injury after next month's international break will also boost the team's options going forward if the Argentine does see the ex-Fulham man playing in an attacking role rather than as a left-back.
There's also still the possibility of re-signing Llorente as he is currently without a club despite a lot of interest in Italy in his services, while things could look a lot more healthier come January if the club decide to once again move for Dybala providing that he doesn't depart Turin before Monday's European transfer deadline.
One thing for certain is that Pochettino is going to need different attacking options available to him over the course of the season as Sunday's defeat against Newcastle proved that substitutions don't always worked out as planned.
A repeat of last weekend's performance at the Emirates on Sunday and he will need them.
