Cristian Romero will play no part for Tottenham against Aston Villa in their FA Cup tie today, but Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie are back in the matchday squad.
Spurs captain Romero was on Friday handed a one-match suspension and fined £50,000 after admitting a Football Association (FA) charge that followed his reaction to a late sending off in the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool last month.
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW TOTTENHAM VS ASTON VILLA LIVE
In his absence, Kevin Danso partners Micky van de Ven in central defence with Radu Dragusin in reserve.
Mohammed Kudus, meanwhile, suffered a quad injury during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Sunderland and will not be back fit until early April.
“Kudus is a bigger one, to the tendon and quad, and don't expect him back until after the March international break,” under-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank said in his pre-match press conference.
Rodrigo Bentancur is facing a significant spell on the sidelines, too, after suffering a hamstring injury during Spurs’ damaging 3-2 defeat by Bournemouth on Wednesday. Lucas Bergvall similarly misses out after coming off against the Cherries with what appeared to be a muscle injury.
That means Joao Palhinha returns to the starting line-up at the base of midfield alongside Archie Gray.
With Kudus out, Wilson Odobert starts on the right wing with Xavi Simons at No10 and Mathys Tel on the left. Richarilson replaces Randal Kolo Muani up top.
Solanke is still understood to be building up fitness having resumed training following ankle surgery, but his unexpected return to the bench for today’s game will be welcome news to Spurs fans; so too will the return of Udogie, who is also among the substitutes today after his recent hamstring troubles.
Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain absent, however, and fellow midfielders Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are both still away at the Africa Cup of Nations. The former was sent off on Friday as Mali lost to Senegal in the quarter-finals.
Confirmed Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Davies; Palhinha, Gray; Odobert, Xavi, Tel; Richarlison
Subs: Kinsky, Dragusin, Udogie, Solanke, Spence, Kolo Muani, Scarlett, Byfield, Williams-Barnett
Injured: Maddison, Kulusevski, Kudus, Bentancur, Bergvall
Suspended: Romero
Unavailable: Bissouma, Sarr (AFCON)
Time and date: 5:45pm GMT on Saturday January 10, 2026
How to watch: BBC One and TNT Sports 1
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
