Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham will have just one player missing vs West Ham through injury
Tottenham Hotspur face a crucial London derby against West Ham United, with pressure mounting after their poor start to the Premier League season. Before the international break, Spurs endured a frustrating 3-2 loss to Brighton, despite holding a two-goal lead.
This defeat marked Tottenham’s worst start to a league campaign in 16 years, leaving head coach Ange Postecoglou with much to ponder. The Australian manager has spent the last two weeks reflecting on the collapse against Brighton and planning how to secure his first victory in a London derby since taking charge.
Postecoglou’s preparations for the West Ham clash have been boosted by the return of several key players, who are now fit and available for selection. Both Richarlison and Heung-min Son, two pivotal attacking options, have returned to training and are expected to be ready for the match.
Son, in particular, has been a major miss for Spurs, having sat out the last three games. His absence has forced Postecoglou to rely on Timo Werner, who has struggled to fill the void left by the South Korean’s dynamic presence.
Richarlison, on the other hand, has seen limited action this season, featuring for just 25 minutes due to recurring injuries. His return offers Tottenham more attacking depth as they look to turn their season around.
In addition to Son and Richarlison, Lucas Bergvall is also expected to be available for the West Ham game. The Swedish midfielder picked up a knock during international duty but should recover in time to be part of the squad. However, Wilson Odobert remains sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving him unavailable for selection.
The pressure is on for Tottenham to deliver a positive result against West Ham, and fans are eagerly anticipating how Postecoglou will set up his team. Son is expected to slot back into the starting lineup, replacing Werner in the forward line.
Richarlison and Bergvall, while close to full fitness, are likely to be eased back into action and may target the upcoming Europa League match against AZ Alkmaar for their full returns.
Defensively, Postecoglou is likely to stick with the same back four that featured against Brighton, despite calls for changes. Some fans have called for Djed Spence and Radu Dragusin to replace Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie, respectively, but the Tottenham coach appears inclined to maintain stability at the back.
Romero and Udogie have been regular starters under Postecoglou, and while their performances against Brighton were not flawless, the coach seems to trust in their ability to bounce back.
As for Tottenham’s midfield and attacking setup, Postecoglou is expected to deploy a creative trio consisting of Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, and Dejan Kulusevski.
These players offer the technical quality and vision needed to break down West Ham’s defense, while Son’s return adds a potent goal threat. Johnson and Solanke are likely to continue in the forward positions alongside Son, forming a fluid attacking unit capable of causing problems for West Ham’s backline.
Tottenham’s predicted lineup for the West Ham clash could look like this: Vicario in goal, with Pedro Porro, Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Udogie forming the back four. In midfield, Bentancur, Maddison, and Kulusevski will look to control the game and supply the forward trio of Johnson, Son, and Solanke with opportunities.
With Tottenham in desperate need of a win, Postecoglou’s tactics and lineup decisions will come under intense scrutiny. Spurs are currently four points behind the top four in the Premier League, and another poor result could put serious pressure on the Australian manager.
The return of key players like Son and Richarlison should provide a significant boost, but Tottenham must display more consistency and resolve if they are to climb the table and challenge for a top-four spot this season.
For Tottenham, the stakes are high, and a win against West Ham is essential to shift the momentum of their season. Postecoglou knows that anything less than three points will raise serious questions about his ability to guide Spurs back to the upper echelons of English football. With the squad slowly returning to full strength, the team has the tools to succeed—it’s now a matter of execution on the pitch.
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