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Lankshear in as wholesale changes made - The Tottenham team Postecoglou must pick vs Galatasaray

Will Lankshear could be handed a start for Tottenham away at Galatasaray on Thursday evening
-Credit: (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)


Tottenham have the opportunity to make it four wins from four games when they return to Europa League action on Thursday evening. Having already defeated Qarabag, Ferencvaros and AZ Alkmaar in the newly-formed league phase of UEFA's second club competition, Ange Postecoglou's men are back on their travels this week as they take on Turkish giants Galatasaray.

Tottenham will have to be at their very best if they are to pick up three points in what is expected to be a very hostile atmosphere inside RAMS Park. Galatasaray have started the Europa League in good form and currently sit fifth after two wins and one draw from their first three fixtures.

The focus on Thursday from a Tottenham perspective will very much be on the team Postecoglou puts out in Turkey due to a number of injury issues going into the fixture. But who exactly should be in the Spurs XI to take on Galatasaray? Our Tottenham writers at football.london have had their say below.

Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent

Postecoglou needs to rest some players and Tottenham's good start in the Europa League gives him a cushion to take a few more risks with the starting XI.

With Richarlison suffering a hamstring injury on Sunday, 19-year-old Will Lankshear could get his second start for the club up front to hand Dominic Solanke a much-needed breather. Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies are the only fit centre-backs and Archie Gray will be used in one of the full-back slots.

As Destiny Udogie came on early against Manchester City, Pedro Porro could start again as the fresher full-back as he got that night off last week.

James Maddison and Yves Bissouma may well provide the experience in the midfield, although Rodrigo Bentancur only played marginally more minutes than the latter on Sunday. Lucas Bergvall needs another start to continue his development.

On the right wing, 17-year-old Mikey Moore could get another start and Postecoglou may decide to give Son Heung-min a half or 60 minutes to continue to increase his fitness again after his spell out, while also bringing his leadership to the team.

Gold's team: Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Bergvall, Bissouma, Maddison; Moore, Lankshear, Son.

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Rob Guest - Football writer

Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham simply cannot afford any more injuries right now and it would be no surprise at all to see key players given a breather in Istanbul. Dominic Solanke should be chief among them despite Richarlison's injury, with Dejan Kulusevski another who shouldn't be risked from the start against Galatasaray.

In terms of those who should start, Fraser Forster is the pick between the sticks after an excellent showing against AZ Alkmaar last time out in Europe. As Pedro Porro didn't play a single minute of the recent midweek fixtures against AZ and Manchester City, the Spaniard starts at right-back and Destiny Udogie is rested as Archie Gray starts at left-back. Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies complete Spurs' backline.

In midfield, Yves Bissouma, James Maddison and Lucas Bergvall should all come into the side as Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Kulusevski drop out. Mikey Moore, Will Lankshear and Timo Werner then make up the front three as was the case in last month's win at Ferencvaros, with Solanke and Son Heung-min, who only returned from injury last game, options from the bench in the second half if required.

Guest's team: Forster; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Gray; Bissouma, Maddison, Bergvall; Moore, Lankshear, Werner.

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