Tottenham have had a rocky start to the 2019/20 campaign. Things seemed fine when the Lilywhites came from behind to put a resistant Aston Villa to the sword before battling hard to come away from The Etihad with a point. However, losing at home to Newcastle was a real hammer blow.
The Newcastle loss was followed by a brilliant yet atrocious display away at The Emirates in which the Lilywhites’ drew 2-2 in a game where plenty impressed but others failed to leave their mark. Now, though, four games have gone and we’re at the first international break of the season, and it’s come at a great time.
Against Arsenal, Mauricio Pochettino deployed three centre-backs, with Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld in the middle and Davinson Sanchez out in the unfamiliar position of right-back, that was due to injuries to Juan Foyth and Kyle-Walker Peters, and over at left-back, and in central midfield, things don’t look much better.
Tanguy Ndombele, Eric Dier, Ryan Sessegnon, Ben Davies and Giovani Lo Celso can all be added to the list of Foyth and Walker-Peters of those who are either injured or not properly match fit, and having the international break is a perfect opportunity for Pochettino to work with those who are to stay in N17 whilst others jet off for more matches and minutes.
When football returns after the first break of the season, the Lilywhites will be hopeful that Davies, Ndombele, Walker-Peters, Lo Celso and Dier should hopefully be back fit, with Foyth and Sessegnon to follow, as per Premier Injuries for those who have more than just match fitness concerns.
The break also gives those who have had transfer issues a chance to get away and clear their heads. Sky Sports have delivered updates on the futures of Toby Alderweireld, Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen in recent weeks, but with all of them still in North London, going away for a week of international fixtures has come at the perfect time.