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Tottenham v Newcastle: Spurs projected starting XI

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Spurs looks on prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match beween Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Spurs looks on prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match beween Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Spurs looks on prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Spurs looks on prior to the Pre-Season Friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus at Wembley Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

Tottenham will start a patchwork XI against Newcastle

Mauricio Pochettino would love to enter the 2017/18 Premier League campaign with a full complement of healthy players. Unfortunately, that isn’t the reality for the Spurs gaffer. Instead, he’ll have to start a strange starting XI on Sunday against Rafa Benitez’s club.

Injuries have already taken a significant toll on the Spurs squad. Erik Lamela and Danny Rose are still rehabbing from knocks that caused them to miss significant time last year. Victor Wanyama, Son Heung-Min and Kieran Trippier both sustained injuries this preseason that put their involvement in serious doubt.

Any other Premier League club could point to new signings as beacons of hope to replace injured stars. Tottenham, in sharp contrast, are the only club in England’s top flight yet to make a summer addition. Even if they add a player in time to be registered for Sunday’s clash, it’s almost impossible to believe that Mauricio Pochettino would trot a new signing out without him having a full week to train with his teammates.

Add it all up and it gives Pochettino some very interesting choices to make. Earning three points away from Wembley with a patchwork lineup could give Spurs a lot of momentum. Faltering early could cost Tottenham dearly in their quest to capture the Premier League title.

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