Ryan Mason is back in interim charge of Tottenham Hotspur, with his first assignment Thursday night's home encounter with Manchester United.
Spurs pulled the plug on Cristian Stellini's short-tenure after the weekend's 6-1 demolition by Newcastle United. Mason, who was working as Tottenham's first-team coach, has experience of stepping up to a caretaker role - having done so following Jose Mourinho's dismissal back in 2021.
United head into the game on the back of reaching the FA Cup final, looking to pull further away from Spurs and solidify a top-four finish under Erik ten Hag. Tottenham's recent form means that their hopes of doing so look extremely slim, but Mason will be looking to make an instant impact nonetheless.
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So, what changes could Mason make for the midweek clash against United. Our colleagues at Football.London have taken a look in great depth, with alterations in personnel being called for down in the capital. A return to three-at-the-back looks nailed on for Thursday's hosts, after Stellini's decision to deploy Pedro Porro and Ivan Perisic as full-backs - in a four - backfired emphatically.
Hugo Lloris also made way at St James' Park, with Fraser Forster emerging for the second half and only conceding one more goal. The performances of Forster this season have come in for praise, with another opportunity potentially on the horizon against United. That will likely depend on the severity of Lloris' muscle injury, mind.
In front of the shot-stopper, Clement Lenglet and Ben Davies are both being tipped for starts. Lenglet was back on the bench against the Magpies after a foot issue, while Davies was also named as a substitute - involved on match day for the first time since mid-March. Davies is capable of slotting into the back three, as well as potentially replacing Perisic at left wing-back.
Moving further up the pitch, the recent form of Dejan Kulusevski has been disappointing for Tottenham. A recall to the starting XI for Richarlison - who is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the season - may be in store. January loan recruit Arnaut Danjuma is another option for Mason - the former Bournemouth man having struggled for minutes in a Spurs shirt.
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