Rodrigo Bentancur to start as Tottenham early team news v Aston Villa predicted
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Alan Hutton predicts Rodrigo Bentancur to make his first start of the season when Tottenham welcome Aston Villa to North London on Sunday.
Yves Bissouma is suspended for the Premier League showdown on 26 November and 26-year-old Bentancur, who hadn’t played for Spurs since February before returning to action against Crystal Palace late last month, is in line to replace him.
The former Juventus star has come off the bench in each of Spurs’ last three Premier League games and during the international break, he played twice for Uruguay.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning (22 November), Bentancur started and completed 86 minutes of Uruguay’s 3-0 World Cup qualifier win over Bolivia, leading to huge praise from manager Marcelo Bielsa, who dubbed the versatile midfielder “special” [El Observador].
That’s led to Hutton believing Ange Postecoglou will start Bentancur against Villa at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.
When asked if Bentacur will replace Bissouma in Postecoglou’s starting line-up, Hutton told Tottenham News: “Yes, I think that’s what will happen.
“He’s just come back from a serious injury, he’s made some cameo appearances to work his minutes up and he’s ready now after the international break.
“I think he comes in.”
James Maddison is also among the number of players who won’t be involved against Unai Emery’s Villa, who are just one place and one point behind fourth-placed Spurs in the Premier League standings.
Hutton isn’t sure whether Giovani Lo Celso is the best replacement for Maddison based on how the Argentine has performed for Tottenham since his arrival from Real Betis in 2019.
The ex-Spurs right-back added: “The interesting one for me is Maddison. Who will replace him?
“Will it be Lo Celso? He’s a talented footballer but it’s not quite worked for him in a Tottenham shirt at this moment in time.
“Obviously with the suspensions and the injuries, it’s going to be difficult for Spurs.
“Villa are on a good run of form and even though their away form hasn’t been as good as it has been at home, it’s going to be a hard game for Spurs. I think it’ll be close.”
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