Opinion: The Tottenham XI that Ange Postecoglou could pick for the first match of pre-season

With it only being merely a matter of weeks until Tottenham Hotspur are back in action ahead of the 2024/25 season with a pre-season fixture away to Hearts, we have shared our view on what sort of team we can expect to see.

Many of the Spurs squad are available for selection

Scottish outfit Heart of Midlothian are the first destination of Spurs’ preseason tour which stretches until August, playing as far away as Japan and South Korea where in the latter, Tottenham will take on Harry Kane’s Bayern Munich.

Postecoglou, perhaps unusually considering there have been Copa America and Euro 2024 tournaments this summer, has a lot of first-team players at his disposal for his opening pre-season fixture in Scotland.

James Maddison is the player of the highest profile who is available following his England squad omission.

Big names that haven’t been pictured with the squad so far consist of: Heung-Min Son, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Radu Dragusin, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Giovanni Lo Celso.

It’s expected that Postecoglou will opt for continuity in the opening games of pre-season, although the Australian may veer away from his 4-2-3-1 formation that has been his go-to at Tottenham, a change is likely to only be due to transfers or pure experimentation.

Our Tottenham Starting Line-Up vs Hearts

Goalkeeper – Brandon Austin

The 25-year-old youth academy product has recently signed a new deal at Tottenham until 2029, a new contract for a player that’s hardly had a competitive minute for Tottenham must suggest Postecoglou wants the homegrown keeper as his number two next season.

With no Vicario, it could be Austin’s time to shine for Spurs and nail down a number two spot ahead of Fraser Forster.

Left Back – Ben Davies

Davies is the most likely option to be used at left-back as although Destiny Udogie has been pictured training at Hotspur Way, he’s probably more likely to be utilised off the bench to get him enough minutes to gain some match sharpness after a lengthy period out on the sidelines.

Rio Kyerematen is another player to watch as he made the trip with the first-team squad to Australia after last season and was extremely impressive as a left-back in the U21’s double-winning campaign.

Centre Back – Ashley Phillips

With so all three senior defenders away on international duties, I think Postecoglou will hand one of the exciting young centre backs at the club a chance rather than pushing a left or right back into the position.

Phillips has pace, power and defensive ability that could impress a few if he starts as I expect he will.

Centre Back – Alfie Dorrington

I suspect that Postecoglou may have his hand forced into starting two youth team defenders against Hearts for the reasons stated above. Dorrington struggled with multiple injuries across the 2023/24 season and will hopefully be fit and sharp to show off his ability in pre-season.

Right Back – Pedro Porro

The Spaniard who was shockingly left out of Spain’s EURO squad list has had a full summer to rest and prepare for his second full season in a Tottenham shirt.

Porro will likely be used to offer some quality and experience into a backline that widely is made up of youth team stars.

Defensive Midfielder – Yves Bissouma

Postecoglou has plenty of exciting young options to throw into the midfield against Hearts, so I assume that he’ll utilise Yves Bissouma in defensive midfield to offer an extra helping hand to the young centre-back partnership.

Bissouma also perhaps needs a good pre-season more than anyone at Tottenham. His end to the season was incredibly disappointing and his position could be under threat if he doesn’t improve quickly.

Centre Midfielder – Archie Gray

Gray has experience in England for Leeds United and hopefully will be able to adapt to the next level of football quickly, a solid pre-season will be key to that. Lucas Bergvall is the other option but with him being less money and only just arriving from abroad I tip Gray to start ahead of him.

Pape Mate Sarr is obviously the most routine choice given his regular starts last season, but everyone is desperate to see Spurs’ shiniest new toy in Archie Gray, aren’t they?

Attacking Midfielder – James Maddison

Much like Bissouma, Maddison has a poor end to the season and will be hoping a good preseason ensures a clean slate ahead of the 24/25 campaign. Maddison is one of Tottenham’s few star players available for the game against Hearts and will likely be utilised to offer some top, proven quality to the Spurs side.

Left Winger – Mikey Moore

These pre-season fixtures will be telling as to how much involvement Moore could get in the first-team this season. The 16-year-old’s frequent involvement in matchday squads towards the end of the season suggested Postecoglou has high hopes for the teenager and perhaps thinks of him as a key part of his team next season.

Manor Solomon is coming back from a huge injury and a start may be too much workload, Bryan Gil is unlikely to realistically stay at Spurs for much longer and senior game time is more valuable to Moore and Werner.

Right Winger – Brennan Johnson

Much like with Maddison, Johnson is likely to start to bring some senior experience and top quality to what is a mixed side of youth and unknown quantities. It is conceivable however that Postecoglou chooses Kulusevksi, it’s likely to be down to who’s fitter in the days prior to the game.

Striker – Dane Scarlett

Especially for the opening game against Hearts, Postecoglou will be open to trying and experimenting with new players and roles. Scarlett offered something in the games where he featured off of the bench towards the latter stages of last season and Postecoglou may utilise this game to judge what he can do with the 20-year-old going forward.

Richarlison is obviously also an option especially with the Brazilian just coming back from injury, the Hearts game may be used as a way to get the striker up to fitness.

Substitutes: Forster, Whiteman, Kyerematen, Spence, Udogie, Reguilon, Bergvall, Hall, Skipp, Sarr, Donley, Kulusevski, Solomon, Gil, Richarlison, Veliz, Werner

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