Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou set to snub Radu Dragusin v Crystal Palace despite February update

Tottenham News speaking to Alan Hutton

Alan Hutton joined Tottenham from Rangers in 2008, winning the 2008 League Cup final in just his third game for the club. The former Scotland right-back went on to make 66 appearances in all competitions for Spurs before he left for Aston Villa in 2011. Now a pundit for BBC Sport and TNT Sports, Hutton has also joined Tottenham News' team of experts to react to the latest news emerging from North London.

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Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou is unlikely to hand Radu Dragusin his full Premier League debut against Crystal Palace despite Spurs' defeat to Wolves, according to Alan Hutton.

Postecoglou's side welcome the Eagles to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday (2 March) as they look to get back to winning ways following a weekend without a fixture after their clash with Chelsea was postponed.

Since arriving in North London from Genoa for £26.7million in January [Sky Sports, 12 January], Dragusin has had to settle for brief cameos from the substitutes bench in the Premier League, playing only eight minutes of football across three appearances.

While Saturday's clash with Palace may see Postecoglou make one or two changes in search of three points, Hutton thinks the Spurs boss will continue with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven at centre-back once again.

"If everybody is fit I don't see too many changes to be brutally honest," Hutton told Tottenham News.

"I mean Dragusin as you said could come in, but I think the pairing that have been playing, they're his number one and number two and the back four or back five have been solid.

"They really fit into exactly how Ange wants to play so all being well and as long as training has gone well, I don't see why you he would change too much against Palace."

Who will Ange Postecoglou start for Tottenham against Crystal Palace?

When they have been fit and available, Romero and Van de Ven have been exceptional for Postecoglou and Spurs this season and their remarkable form has made it incredibly hard for Dragusin to break into Tottenham's starting XI.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou
Ange Postecoglou has impressed since arriving at Tottenham.

While that wait may have to continue against Palace, both centre-backs have had their injury woes at times this season and there will certainly be opportunities for the 22-year-old to cement his place in the coming months.

However, Postecoglou's focus on Saturday will be entirely on getting back to winning ways and boosting Spurs Champions League hopes after a week without action.

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