We asked our Tottenham correspondents Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to select the team they think should start at Old Trafford
Thomas Frank must decide whether Yves Bissouma starts for Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday
Tottenham travel to Manchester United on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League looking to continue their recent upturn in results.
Thomas Frank’s side are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions after their 2-2 draw with title-chasers Manchester City and now make their way to Old Trafford to take on a United side revitalised under caretaker boss Michael Carrick. Spurs need to start climbing up the table and a positive performance in the lunchtime kick-off in Manchester will start pushing the Lilywhites in the right direction in the Premier League.
Frank has got a couple of players back fit and available in Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven with Djed Spence also close to a return and “touch and go” for the game according to the Dane.
We asked our Spurs reporters Alasdair Gold and Ryan Taylor to select the team they think should Frank start with at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Alasdair Gold – Tottenham correspondent
With Van de Ven and Romero available to play at Old Trafford, the question is whether it’s Joao Palhinha or Radu Dragusin who starts alongside them if Frank goes with a back three and the 3-4-3 formation. Palhinha’s performance in the role against City and ability to get forward lends itself to the Portuguese getting the nod despite the Romanian’s strong second half.
The wing-backs pick themselves right now as they are the only ones currently fit while Pape Matar Sarr might get to start ahead of Yves Bissouma in midfield with Conor Gallagher after making a big difference in the second half against City.
Wilson Odobert, who was ill like Romero for the City game, still looked dangerous and should get the green light ahead of Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel with Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke looking to carry straight on from their fine displays against Pep Guardiola’s men.
Gold’s XI: Vicario, Palhinha, Romero, Van de Ven; Gray, Gallagher, Sarr, Udogie; Odobert, Solanke, Xavi.
Ryan Taylor – Sports reporter
Hopefully Micky van de Ven is ready to start and if so, he comes straight back into the starting XI. I’d push Joao Palhinha back into midfield, keeping the 3-4-2-1 system that has proven effectively in recent weeks. Radu Dragusin played well against Manchester City and a back-three suits him, he can provide solidity alongside Cristian Romero and Van de Ven with Archie Gray and Destiny Udogie operating as wing-backs. Palhinha and Conor Gallagher can provide the legs in midfield while Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke can provide the firepower in attack. My game plan would be to stay compact defensively and hit United on the break. Randal Kolo Muani and Mathys Tel could also have big parts to play from the bench so this isn’t just about the starting XI. Taylor’s XI: Vicario; Dragusin, Romero, Van de Ven; Gray, Palhinha, Gallagher, Udogie; Odobert, Xavi; Solanke.