Team news and expected starting XI vs Sheffield United

Tottenham are set to face Sheffield United in the Capital One Cup first leg tonight, with the White Hart Lane faithful hopeful that victory can play a major part in getting the side to Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed that Spurs have a number of players unavailable but the Argentine coach has a strong contingent to select from.

With no Premier League action this weekend and a home clash with Leicester in the FA Cup in its place, the Spurs boss may well be tempted to field a strong side tonight to give us the emphasis in the clash with United.

Team News

Young midfielder Ryan Mason has been included in the matchday squad after sufficiently recovering from a hamstring injury picked up against Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Younes Kaboul is also available after overcoming illness.

Nabil Bentaleb is off on African Cup of Nations duty, while Nacer Chadli is unavailable after the death of his father. Vlad Chiriches, Federico Fazio and Erik Lamela all remain sidelined with injury.

Mason

Having Mason back in contention for a starting XI place will bolster Pochettino’s options in the centre of the park but it remains to be seen whether the youth product will get the nod from the first whistle.

Reintroducing him to senior football gradually may well be a better option for a young man that has all of a sudden become very important for the team.

Giving him a second-half introduction from the bench seems sensible, especially given that there are other options to select from.

Choices, choices

There are a number of key decisions to make for Pochettino, especially in midfield and in attack.

De Andre Yedlin could well make his debut for Spurs tonight but it seems likely that the new signing will be on the bench.

There is a case to suggest that outcast Emmanuel Adebayor could well be involved after coming off the bench against Sunderland at the weekend.

Midfield options include Etienne Capoue, Paulinho, Mousa Dembele and Benjamin Stambouli

Provisional squad: Lloris, Vorm, Friedel, Walker, Yedlin, Rose, Davies, Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Stambouli, Dembele, Paulinho, Capoue, Mason, Eriksen, Chadli, Lennon, Townsend, Soldado, Adebayor, Kane.

Potential starting XI: Vorm, Davies, Vertonghen, Dier, Walker, Stambouli, Dembele, Townsend, Kane, Eriksen, Soldado.

Importance of the first leg

Although Spurs have certainly got the more favourable draw against League One Sheffield United rather than Liverpool or Chelsea, the hosts should not write off tonight’s opposition.

The Blades have knocked out both West Ham and Southampton this season from the competition and will be motivated to add Spurs to their giant-killing list.

The trip to Bramall Lane would certainly be a tougher proposal if Spurs do not win the first leg, while victory by a couple of goals would be the perfect confidence booster and see the side close to a date at Wembley.

 

Couldn't agree more. A win - hopefully a big one - is absolutely vital.

 

We need at three or even four goal margin. Bramall lane will have a hot atmosphere and will be no easy task, so we need to get at them tonight and more importantly not concede.

 

If we turn up with an atitude of just being there is enough they will get a rude awakening, we should b looking at a professional 2 goal margin minimum

 

Adebayor is the captain!

 

Adebayor as captain is yet further discontent for the fans, Poch is either clueless or under pressure from Ming. Either way its a shambles