Tottenham predicted line-up vs Leeds, Digi Mart USA News: Tottenham will look to make it four Premier League wins in a row when they visit Leeds on Saturday afternoon. The trip to Elland Road is by no means easy, but Roberto De Zerbi’s side are in red-hot form after securing league wins over Coventry City, Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Having comfortably beaten the 10-man Eagles last weekend, Spurs will want to keep the momentum going before they head into the international break. De Zerbi is expected to consider changes to his line-up, with Pedro Porro and James Maddison possibly coming in to replace Archie Gray and Dominic Solanke.
Gray will be desperate to face his former club, but De Zerbi may consider giving his young star a well-deserved rest. He could even return to his favoured midfield role, but the form of Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali makes that a difficult decision for the Spurs manager.
Maddison’s return to the line-up could see Omar Marmoush take up the No.9 role, with Dominic Solanke dropping to the bench. The striker has been struggling for confidence and goals this season.
De Zerbi is likely to name Luca Williams-Barnett on the bench again, despite calls for the wonderkid to be handed a start after his impressive cameo appearance in the win over Palace. Spurs do not want to rush the development of the playmaker, who made his Premier League debut last weekend, but De Zerbi believes the highly rated youngster is ready to start matches.
Williams-Barnett produced a sparkling cameo as a late substitute in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Palace, with one exhilarating dribble past three opponents demonstrating why there has been excitement around the 18-year-old for a long time. It was his second appearance of the campaign after a brief run-out against Charlton in the Carabao Cup and his first in the Premier League.
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds, De Zerbi insisted the teenager is ready for a full debut and considered it at Chelsea last month. “The pre-season, it was clear (he is) a special talent,” De Zerbi said.
“The next step he has to enjoy, he has to follow the older players, the players with more experience like (Andy) Robertson, (James) Maddison, Ben Davies and to find the time to play.”
“It is my responsibility because when you manage young players and so big talents like Luca, it is a bigger responsibility for me,” he added. “He has to be ready when he goes on the pitch.
I think it does not depend on the result, he can play from the beginning. Before the Chelsea game, I thought to play with him in the first XI, but in the end you have to find the right moment and for them also.”
“I think the age is not so important. The most important is the quality, personality, the behaviour on the pitch and the qualities.
And Luca has all of these qualities,” De Zerbi said.
Predicted formation (4-2-3-1): Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Robertson; Fernandes, Tonali; Kudus, Maddison, Tel; Marmoush.
