Porro starts, Perisic and Kulusevski wait

Porro starts, Perisic and Kulusevski wait - The Tottenham team Conte must select vs Southampton

Tottenham have the opportunity to move into third when they travel to the south coast to face struggling Southampton on Saturday. Having returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory against Nottingham Forest, Spurs can capitalise on Manchester United's participation in the FA Cup this weekend.

While the Red Devils will crucially have two games in hand over Spurs, it would give everyone a lift heading into the first international break of 2023 if Tottenham were to leapfrog the Red Devils into third in the standings. However, it will not be easy at all despite Southampton propping up the table as they did earn a point at Old Trafford one week ago and are currently scrapping for their lives.

A ground Spurs have not fared so well at in recent years, consistency is going to be key for Antonio Conte's men once again as they look to build up some real momentum going into the business end of the campaign. So what team will he select at St Mary's on Saturday? Our football.london Tottenham reporters have named the sides they would plump for below.

Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent

You just don't mess with a winning side, especially when the players that came in added something to it.

Pedro Porro brought an attacking dimension down the right and his first assist since arriving just over a month ago while Ben Davies again played his part in a victory when starting on the left.

Up front, Richarlison is yet to score in the Premier League but his battling performance against Nottingham Forest, involved in all three goals for Spurs, needs to be rewarded by Conte. Others the Italian is playing into exactly what the Brazilian said about suddenly being dropped for no real reason.

Dejan Kulusevski has not been at his best recently so having to prove himself from the bench is no bad thing and he's a very useful weapon to bring on.

Gold's team: Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Skipp, Hojbjerg, Davies; Richarlison, Kane, Son.

Rob Guest - Tottenham Hotspur reporter

Why change a winning team? There is no reason at all to mix things up for Saturday's trip to St Mary's as the players got the job done one week ago against Nottingham Forest to help lift confidence within the camp.

Pedro Porro has certainly done enough to start again at right wing-back despite Emerson Royal returning to training during the week after missing out vs Forest. On the opposite flank, Ben Davies is excelling and Ivan Perisic is going to have to settle for a place on the bench once again.

Richarlison demonstrated why he is so highly regarded in the game in the win over Nottingham Forest and he has given his boss an easy decision to make in terms of the starting XI. Chances should fall his way at St Mary's and if he can replicate his previous performance then his first Premier League goal for Spurs will hopefully arrive on Saturday.

Guest's team: Forster; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Porro, Hojbjerg, Skipp, Davies; Richarlison, Kane, Son

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