The end of the 2022/23 Premier League season probably cannot come fast enough for Tottenham fans after a miserable campaign. In Champions League contention for the vast majority of the season before falling away in recent weeks, the Lilywhites go into Sunday's final match of the season at Leeds United with the Europa Conference League now their main target.
Having seen Brighton & Hove Albion clinch the final Europa League place in midweek, it is now between Aston Villa, Spurs and Brentford for a Europa Conference League berth. Villa are in the driving seat and a win over the Seagulls will see them tie up seventh, with Tottenham needing to come away with points at Leeds and hope that results go their way.
Delivering one of their best performances of the season in the opening 45 minutes against Brentford last weekend, Ryan Mason now needs a 90-minute display from his players as he looks to finish off his second spell as acting head coach in style. The 31-year-old is going to be limited in terms of the changes he can make to his team from last Saturday's defeat as Cristian Romero will miss out through injury once again and Eric Dier is also unavailable after undergoing surgery on his groin during the week.
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Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could be in line to return, though, after he sat out the Brentford game through injury. As the Dane has been involved in training ahead of the trip to West Yorkshire, that leaves Mason with a decision to make over whether the 27-year-old returns to the starting XI or he is named on the bench.
Yves Bissouma was a positive for Tottenham in the Brentford game, as he was the week before against Aston Villa, and he ideally needs the minutes and to finish such a troublesome season for him on a high note. Despite his lack of minutes this season and his failure to replicate his stunning Brighton form for Tottenham, the Mali international could play a pivotal role in the team next campaign under the next head coach.
Spurs fans want to see more of Bissouma and it would be incredibly harsh on him if he made way for Hojbjerg after two very good showings. That could mean Oliver Skipp is the one to drop out to accommodate the ex-Southampton man, which in turn would bring an end to his 14 consecutive starts in the Premier League following Rodrigo Bentancur's season-ending injury back in February.
One other potential change could take place in attack. Arnaut Danjuma was finally handed his first Tottenham start in his penultimate game for the club last weekend but he unfortunately couldn't have a big say on proceedings.
The Netherlands international worked incredibly hard but things just didn't come off for him, which resulted in Lucas Moura replacing him on 66 minutes. Richarlison, who was introduced for the final 15 minutes against Brentford, could possibly be the player to profit if Danjuma is to drop down to the substitutes' bench.
The Brazilian, just like Bissouma, has struggled in his first year in north London through injury and a lack of minutes and it could be next season when Spurs get to see the best of him. Only managing three goals for Tottenham so far, with two of those coming in the Champions League win over Marseille at the beginning of September, the 26-year-old needs to try and finish this season on a high to give him a confidence boost going into the summer.
Certainly more suited to the left flank if he isn't to be played as the central striker, Richarlison coming into the XI could result in a positional switch for Son Heung-min. As the South Korean operated from the left against Brentford, he could move over to the opposite side in order to accommodate Richarlison.
While it's not clear how Tottenham will line up in terms of their formation next season under their new head coach, if it is to be 4-2-3-1 then Richarlison coming in vs Leeds would allow the attacking quartet of the Brazilian, Son, Dejan Kulusevski and Harry Kane to play alongside each other and try and strike a good relationship.
Only really getting game time together when Spurs have been chasing games due to Antonio Conte persisting with his 3-4-3 formation from the start and naming one of the four on the bench as a result, Spurs fans would undoubtedly like to see the quartet all start together as they look to see a more attacking side on a regular basis. Another possible option on the left of the three behind Kane would be Ivan Perisic, unless Mason springs a surprise and decides to hand Lucas Moura a start in his farewell appearance for the club.
Regardless of the changes Mason does or does not make against Leeds, three points is vital for Tottenham if they want to go into the 2023/24 Premier League season with European football on the agenda. A helping hand from Brighton & Hove Albion will be required but Tottenham need to help themselves first and foremost.
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