How Spurs could line up against Tamworth | OneFootball

This Sunday, we will see Tottenham Hotspur begin their 24/25 FA Cup journey, as they face National League side Tamworth FC on the road. Their hosts have beaten two League One opponents to get this far, and will know they have absolutely nothing to lose this weekend.

Without sounding patronising, this is a great opportunity for Spurs to rotate, amongst an absolutely packed schedule. Given the lack of numbers Ange has available, there will be some first team players who have little choice but to play, yet there will be some that are given some much needed rest.

How could Tottenham line up against Tamworth this Sunday

We can expect Antonin Kinsky to start in goal, with Ange confirming as much on Friday. Most fans wouldn't have been annoyed had Brandon Austin started, giving him a chance to grab a win in a Spurs shirt, but this does make sense. Ange alluded to the fact prior to joining Spurs, Kinsky had not played much football, and this was a chance to continue getting him into the swing of things.

With a lot of players injured, and some requiring rest for this game, having your best available player in one of your positions, and furthermore one that has less of a physical toll, feels the generally sensible thing to do, you would feel.

At right-back, it would be sup optimal to have Pedro Porro or Djed Spence playing. We have seen Porro already play a big amount of minutes this season, and Spence is playing every week for the first time in three years - which could yield an injury - if Spurs are not careful about the situation.

However, Maxwell McKnight, a regular for the U21s, started for the U21s on Friday night, therefore it is highly improbable that he would start here. So, Porro or Spence? Whilst neither are ideal, Porro has played a crazy amount of minutes this season, and Spence did miss the game against Wolves. So, this one goes to Spence.

At centre-back, a duo of Alfie Dorrington and Radu Dragusin feels like it should be the play. We have seen Archie Gray go from not playing in the Premier League, to playing every single game. Another game here would feel a bit much, particularly as he will be needed for the North London derby next week. This is a good chance for Dorrington to make his first start for the club.

As for Dragusin, ideally he could also get some rest, as he is another player who has gone from not playing to playing every single week, which again, may cause an injury at some point. The reality is that there is not really any other choice. You could go with another U21, but this is an opposition who have beaten EFL sides. Also, Tamworth's biggest threat is giant throws. Spurs could do with box threat for this one.

Then, at left-back. It is time. Incredibly. Just a few months shy away from three years since his last start for the club, this is the time for Sergio Reguilon to start again. Everybody knows he will be off in the summer, but whilst he is here, you may as well use him to rest others. As mentioned above, Spence could do with some rest, and this feels like the perfect game to just play Reguilon.

Into midfield. Ange did hint that there may not be too much rotation, given the lack of available players. The midfield feels like it will be the strongest part of the side here, in terms of first team personnel. We saw Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddison both miss the Carabao Cup semi final first leg against Liverpool, so they are less fatigued than others.

Especially when it comes to Maddison, who has been a sub in the previous three Premier League games. That too, and he has had zero England call ups this season, so has been getting rest in during the international breaks. This is quite different to Dejan Kulusevski, for example, who is clearly in need of some rest as soon as possible.

The final spot, however, could go to an academy player. There was hope that Tyrese Hall would travel, but he started for the U21s on Friday night. However, Callum Olusei, who has been on the first team bench for a couple of months now, was not involved, which could suggestion involvement, in some way or another, in this game.

As for the attack, we could see Brennan Johnson start, given his lack of starts recently, though he may as well have against Liverpool. It is possible Yang Min-hyeok starts, though you feel it is a little bit too soon. It feels like a game that Ange will use Timo Werner in, for similar reasons to Reguilon. Yet, it also feels like a good chance to get Mikey Moore up to speed after so long out.

So, with it being perhaps a bit early for Min-hyeok, and Johnson having played in an intense game on Wednesday night, it feels possible that both players start. Werner on the left, Moore on the right. The same as it was in the Europa League victory over Ferencvaros back in October. It is hugely important that Heung-Min Son, finally, gets some rest for this one.

To complete the front three that started that night, Ange will surely go with Will Lankshear down the middle. The only player that needs more rest than Son, is Dominic Solanke, who has played 1020 of the last 1080 minutes. Ange has even said he needs some help. This is a perfect opportunity to give him some rest, and a perfect chance to give Lankshear a start, and hopefully see him grab a goal or two in the process.