Ben Davies delivered an injury boost to Tottenham boss Antonio Conte ahead of today’s game with Newcastle, by recovering from a leg muscle issue to take his place in the starting XI.
Oliver Skipp (groin) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) remain sidelined but Conte said the pair are “very, very close” to returning to team training. Japhet Tanganga was already ruled out until pre-season following knee surgery.
Conte had named the same side for the past three league matches but Emerson Royal replaces the absent Sergio Reguilon for this game, moving Matt Doherty to left wing-back.
Steven Bergwijn made a strong case for inclusion with three goals in the Netherlands’ friendlies against Denmark and Germany in the March internationals, but he cannot displace the in-form Heung-min Son and Dejan Kulusevski in the XI.
Asked on Friday if any of his squad players were making a compelling case for inclusion, Conte had said: “Yeah, yeah. This is important to create, when you want to be competitive and try to win something, you have to create great competition in your squad, more players to create quality, to bring in mind difficulties about who should start.
“This is the only way. If you have only 11, 12 or 13 players, it’s not good for the team, the club, or for our target. When you start to have more players available to change the game it is important.”
Tottenham XI: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Royal, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Doherty; Kulusevski, Son, Kane.
Subs: Gollini, Rodon, Sanchez, Winks, Bowden, White, Bergwijn, Lucas, Scarlett.
Where: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
When: Sunday, April 3, 16.30
TV: Sky Sports
Referee: Martin Atkinson
