Tottenham Hotspur are set to finally end their season with a friendly match in Melbourne against Newcastle United on Wednesday.
The game, to be played on Wednesday evening at the MCG but in the morning back home in the UK, will bring a close to the campaign for Ange Postecoglou’s side and represents something of a homecoming for the Greek-born Australian, who grew up in the city. For many of the Tottenham players, they are either looking forward to their summer rest after upcoming international friendlies or heading off to compete at the Euros or Copa America.
There will be 80,000 or so fans inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground looking to cheer them on though and while we’re going to take a stab at predicting Postecoglou’s starting line-up, he could go one of either two ways with his team. The Spurs boss could either start with a strong team and then bring on the young players in the second half – and perhaps even first half – or he could blend some experience and youth together for both halves of football.
We know that Cristian Romero and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg did not make the trip due to personal issues and injury respectively, while Giovani Lo Celso, injured in recent weeks, also did not make the journey, with the club’s other already injured players remaining at home in the UK. Postecoglou will not want any further injuries to shine any more light on this tour Down Under.
Here is the Tottenham team we reckon could start in the first half against Newcastle:
The Italian is hoping to get called up to his country’s Euros squad on Thursday so could play for only a short while.
(Image: (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images))The Spaniard was in his last international squad and will be hoping for a late call-up to the Euros.
(Image: Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)We’re going for a mixed centre-back pairing in Romero’s absence with Phillips back from Plymouth.
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)We’re going for the Dutchman in the first half and Radu Dragusin in the second.
(Image: GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)The Brazilian has played relatively little football this season and did not make the Copa America squad so could play longer in this match.
(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)Bentancur is in the Uruguay squad for the Copa America so will likely only play for a short while with plenty of young midfielders ready to come on.
(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)We’re splitting the two younger midfielders with Skipp playing first half and Sarr in the second and Skipp could switch to left-back in the second half.
(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)We reckon Maddison will get a little bit of game time after being named in the provisional England squad for the Euros with Alfie Devine replacing him at some point.
(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)The Swede won’t be at the Euros so could play more of this game than most.
(Image: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)The young Spurs striker could get a chunk of game time in this match as he looks to continue to impress Postecoglou.
(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)We’re going for Son in the first half with Brennan Johnson coming on at some point for the second.