Ange Postecoglou must name the side that he believes can hand the Tottenham fans a festive treat as they make the Boxing Day journey to Nottingham Forest.
Ahead of the game against fourth-placed Forest, Postecoglou has his own Christmas gift in the shape of finally getting a couple of fresh players returning to the fold in the shape of midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur and left-back Destiny Udogie. The Spurs boss must decide with the latter’s return whether Pedro Porro – who has played more minutes than any Tottenham player this campaign – gets a rest and Djed Spence switches sides back to the right or whether the Spaniard continues his run of minutes.
With Bentancur back from his seven-game suspension, Postecoglou must choose between bringing the Uruguayan straight back into the engine room of the Tottenham midfield and if so whether he replaces Yves Bissouma, Pape Matar Sarr or James Maddison. Brennan Johnson could also come into the side to provide some fresh impetus in the front three against his old club, after last season’s return to Nottingham ended with a nasty-looking head injury for the Wales international.
Here’s the Tottenham team that we reckon Postecoglou will select to face Nuno Espirito Santo’s Forest side:
The 36-year-old has wobbled in recent games and needs to get his mojo back.
The 24-year-old has been in good form and could hand Porro a much-needed rest on the right.
The Romanian struggled at times against Liverpool and will need to be better against Forest.
The 18-year-old has earned plenty of praise from Postecoglou in his makeshift role and this could be his last go at it before the return of Ben Davies.
