Bentancur starts, Udogie wait - Ange Postecoglou's strongest Tottenham team to face Aston Villa
Here we take a look at the strongest Tottenham XI Ange Postecoglou can name for Sunday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham team will be looking to bounce back with three points when they return to Premier League action against Aston Villa on Sunday. Starting the 2023/24 season so well but going into the final international break of the year on the back of two successive defeats, Spurs need to get a win on the board as they aim to keep pace with league leaders Man City.
That will be easier said than done, however, as Villa are the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Transformed by the appointment of Unai Emery as boss last year and going on to pip Spurs to a Europa Conference League place on the final day of last season, Villa have started this campaign in outstanding form and currently sit one place and one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham.
Winning all six of their games at Villa Park this term, the Midlands club's form on the road has been rather mixed to say the least after registering two wins, one draw and three defeats from six matches. Tottenham will be hoping to inflict a fourth defeat upon them but they will have to be at the top of their game if they are to prevail in the mouth-watering clash.
Without Micky van de Ven and James Maddison until early next year through injury, the Lilywhites will also not be able to call upon Cristian Romero as he serves the second game of his three-match ban. Yves Bissouma is another who is unavailable as he is now suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the defeat against Wolves.
Already missing some key players from his XI, Postecoglou will have his fingers crossed that none of those currently away on international duty return to Hotspur Way later this week carrying knocks. So what is the strongest starting Tottenham XI the 58-year-old can name to take on Aston Villa? football.london takes a look below.
Guglielmo Vicario
Vicario was not in the Italy squad to face North Macedonia on Friday evening after suffering a slight fever on the eve of the game. Having plenty of time to fully recharge ahead of Sunday's game against Aston Villa, the shot-stopper will be intent on keeping Ollie Watkins and co very quiet
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)1 of 11Pedro Porro
It's an easy decision for Postecoglou to make at right-back with Porro continuing in the position. Missing out on the Spain squad once again, the ex-Sporting CP man will have been putting in the work at Hotspur Way with the others not involved in international action
2 of 11Eric Dier
Romero's absence due to suspension means Dier is in a strong position to start a second successive game for Tottenham. Ashley Phillips is another option available to Postecoglou if he wants to make a change at centre-back from the defeat at Wolves
(Image: Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)3 of 11Ben Davies
![Ben Davies impressed in Tottenham's defeat at Wolves with a solid showing]()
Brought into the Tottenham XI for the encounter at Wolves, Davies delivered a very impressive performance at centre-back and came out with the player of the match award for his showing. The Welshman looks a certainty to start against Villa once again with Van de Ven out injured until next year
(Image: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)4 of 11Destiny Udogie
![Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie]()
Postecoglou will be hoping that he can name Udogie in his starting XI after his absence through suspension at Wolves. Left out of Italy's latest squad as a precautionary measure following his recent injury, the ex-Udinese man has time on his side to ensure he fully recovers from his muscle issue and is in a position to start against Aston Villa
(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)5 of 11
