Tottenham XI vs Aston Villa: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Roberto De Zerbi dealing with yet more injury blows

Roberto De Zerbi will be without Dominic Solanke and Guglielmo Vicario for Tottenham’s trip to Aston Villa this weekend.

Tottenham secured their first league win of the calendar year last weekend by beating bottom-of-the-table Wolves 1-0 at Molineux, but time is running out for them to turn things around.

Simons has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as well as this summer’s World Cup after Spurs confirmed the Dutch midfielder had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee.

Meanwhile, reports have since surfaced suggesting that Solanke is also set to miss the remaining four games of the season with a grade 2 hamstring injury.

Major blow: Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke could miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury

PA

Richarlison took Solanke’s place at Molineux, and the Brazilian is expected to start against Villa, with De Zerbi saying he was unsure how many games Solanke would miss.

De Zerbi is contending with a mounting injury list and still will not be able to call upon Vicario against Villa, with the Italian remaining on the sidelines since undergoing hernia surgery during the March international break.

However, there is good news on Destiny Udogie was absent against Wolves with a muscle injury.

“Udogie can be available. I don’t know beginning of the game or the second-half,” De Zerbi added. Pape Matar Sarr will also be assessed, having missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.

Rumours suggesting that Randal Kolo Muani has suffered a hamstring injury are believed to be inaccurate, and the French forward is expected to bolster De Zerbi’s attacking options on Sunday.

Without Simons, De Zerbi has a decision to make about who replaces him.

He could opt to risk James Maddison, who has been named on the bench in the last two games, but has not played a competitive game in nearly a year.

Alternatively, Mathys Tel could be handed a rare start on the left wing, or Lucas Bergvall could reprise his role as the No10 in De Zerbi’s 4-2-3-1 formation.

Should Udogie be unavailable for selection, then Djed Spence is expected to keep his place at left-back, while Antonin Kinsky will continue in goal if Vicario is deemed unfit.

Predicted Tottenham XI (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kolo Muani, Bergvall, Tel; Richarlison

Doubts: Maddison, Sarr

Injured: Davies, Kulusevski, Odobert, Kudus, Romero, Simons, Solanke, Vicario