Journalist predicts Ashley Phillips could be in line for first Tottenham start v Wolves
Tottenham defender Ashley Phillips could be the player to benefit from Ange Postecoglou’s high-line demands with Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven facing considerable absences, according to Rob Guest.
The Football London journalist, writing in his article (8 November), assessed the defensive options available to Postecoglou with Romero banned for three games and van de Ven facing months on the sidelines after worryingly pulling up with a hamstring injury during their 4-1 defeat to Chelsea.
And Guest suggested Spurs sensation Phillips, who is yet to start since his move from Blackburn Rovers in the summer window, could be the ideal option to partner up with Eric Dier given his speed and youthfulness.
It is believed that Phillips has impressed the Australian coach at Hotspur Way and could yet feature in his thinking when they face off against Wolves at the Molineux Stadium on Saturday afternoon (11 November).
Guest wrote: “Despite his excellent showing at centre-back, it’s hard to see Hojbjerg playing there from the off against Wolves as Postecoglou will undoubtedly want a player with experience of the position in there.
“Ben Davies, providing he returns in time from injury after missing out on the matchday squad vs Chelsea, could potentially be a candidate to start but Spurs wouldn’t exactly be blessed with pace if the Welshman partners Dier.
“Summer signing Ashley Phillips could in fact be the player to benefit and line up alongside Dier.
“On the bench a couple of times this season, the ex-Blackburn Rovers man has yet to make an appearance for the Lilywhites but he has quite clearly made an impression on Postecoglou on the training field at Hotspur Way.”
Ex-Spurs right-back Alan Hutton, speaking on Postecoglou’s possible plans, told Tottenham News:
“It’s a case of can you get through to the international break and hopefully try to work on a plan or something because, obviously Romero is gonna be missing, van de Ven is gonna be missing for a long time.
“Dier came in and I think he’s not been in the picture a lot as we obviously know but, here’s an opportunity for him, can he come in and try and catch the manager’s eye and show what he’s about and make the position his own, or give him something to think about.
“On the other hand, I’m not sure who else comes in and partners him. Is it Emerson Royal, is it Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg to go back in, or is it gonna be one of the full-backs?
“We have to wait and see, I’m not sure in terms of who is going to be fit but can you just get through the next game and into the international break and then hopefully work on something?
“But, he’s a very intelligent guy, he knows what he is doing, been doing it all over the world, so I’m pretty sure he’ll have a plan in the back of his mind but arguably, it’s not ideal.”
In other Tottenham news, one player has admitted to “bad tackles” after the club’s defeat to Chelsea.