Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood showed where his priorities lay with his team selection in the Europa League game against Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, but regulars will return as the battle for fourth place in the Premier League continues on Sunday with a trip to Norwich.
Spurs lost 1-0 in the first leg of the Round of 32 to the Ukrainians after a lackluster performance from Sherwood’s rotated team. However, they will look to continue their recent good domestic form at Carrow Road. After two consecutive wins, the London club is just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and want to keep up the pressure. Let’s take a look at the manager’s option for this match.
Goalkeeper
Tim Sherwood rested first-choice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for the trip to Dnipropetrovsk, with Brad Friedel taking his place. The French international returns for the trip to Carrow Road.
Defence
Kyle Walker was another one who had a rest midweek and he will take his place at right back after Kyle Naughton deputized in Ukraine. Danny Rose missed the Newcastle win but returned for the Dnipro game and should start once again on the left. Michael Dawson and Jan Vertonghen formed the central defensive duo last time out, however Younes Kaboul is pushing for a start after playing at St. James Park and could partner the Belgian. Vlad Chiriches remains unavailable.
Midfield
Sherwood used a 4-1-4-1 formation in the last two matches at Newcastle and Dnipro, but may revert to 4-2-3-1 for the trip to Carrow Road. Mousa Dembele sat out the European match and should return alongside Nabil Bentaleb in midfield, replacing Ettiene Capoue. Aaron Lennon is expected to take the place of Andros Townsend on the right after taking a rest midweek. Nacer Chadli was preferred on the right for the Dnipro game, after scoring as a substitute against Newcastle, but Christian Eriksen could replace him at Norwich. Paulinho retains his place behind the striker. Gylfi Sigurdsson has had some injury problems lately and may stay on the bench, while Sandro remains unavailable.
Attack
Roberto Soldado started at Dnipro but missed an open goal and seems to be low on confidence. He did not start in the last two Premier League matches, with Sherwood preferring to play one up front, who was – of course – Emmanuel Adebayor. The manager admitted that the free-scoring Togolese striker was playing through pain lately, but Spurs need his goals and he will return at Norwich, with the Spaniard returning to the bench.
Possible lineup vs Norwich (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Paulinho, Bentaleb; Lennon, Dembele, Eriksen; Adebayor.
