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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: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko after scoring his sides second goal during 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: Christian Eriksen of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates with Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Moussa Sissoko after scoring his sides second goal during 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) /

Central Attacking Midfielder-Dele Alli

In truth, the starting positions of this attacking trio don’t mean very much. Everyone will rotate as the match goes along, but Dele Alli will begin the afternoon playing behind the striker in a central role.

It’s been a fairly quiet preseason for the precocious youngster, but expect him to be full of fire and fury for his club’s opening match of the campaign. Dele’s eye for goal will cause Newcastle defenders fits all afternoon long.

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Left Attacking Midfielder-Christian Eriksen

The classy Dane would prefer to play exclusively as a number ten, but he splits the role with Dele for Spurs. That does provide Pochettino’s squad with the ability to provide their opponent with very different looks in the attacking third.

No matter where he starts, Eriksen is going to drift into the middle early and often. He’ll do his best to pull the strings for the Spurs attack as they try to unlock the Newcastle defense. Eriksen will also do his best to earn free kicks from dangerous areas where he can truly ruin his opponents.

Right Attacking Midfielder-Moussa Sissoko

Most Tottenham fans believed Moussa Sissoko would be playing in another country by now. Instead, his one preseason appearance against Juventus, combined with a multitude of injuries, have him in contention to start the club’s first match.

Perhaps if Spurs had a fully fit back four, Pochettino would see fit to give Harry Winks the nod here. He clearly gave him a chance to play further forward in the preseason to see if he shoulder that offensive load. Unfortunately for Winks, he just didn’t play as well as Sissoko did.

That means the enigmatic Frenchman will get his chance against his former club. Expect Sissoko to either be brilliant or terrible against Newcastle, there will be no middle ground.

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