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Spence and Son start, Bissouma debate - The Tottenham team Postecoglou must select vs West Ham

Djed Spence will be hoping to play some part in Tottenham's game against West Ham
-Credit: (Image: Pete Norton/Getty Images)


Tottenham Hotspur are up first this weekend as Premier League action resumes following the second international break of the season. The pause in play probably didn't come at the best time for Ange Postecoglou's side as everyone no doubt would have preferred to immediately right the wrongs of the Brighton & Hove Albion defeat.

In excellent form prior to their capitulation on the south coast, Tottenham really need to return to winning ways on Saturday lunchtime when West Ham visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Hammers haven't enjoyed the best of starts to the season under new boss Julen Lopetegui but they did win in their last fixture after hitting Ipswich Town for four.

Tottenham do look set to receive a boost on the injury front going into the London derby with Son Heung-min and Richarlison in a good position to return. So do either of the duo come straight into the team to face West Ham? Our Tottenham writers at football.london have had their say below.

Rob Guest - Football writer

Ange Postecoglou very much has a preferred Tottenham XI when it comes to the Premier League and you would imagine he sticks with it despite the defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion last time out. It may only be one change from the loss at the Amex, with Son Heung-min coming back into the team following his injury as Timo Werner drops down to the bench.

Another change Postecoglou could consider is bringing Yves Bissouma into the XI for Rodrigo Bentancur. However, the Uruguayan has spent the past fortnight working at Hotspur Way with Postecoglou and his coaching staff and that may possibly give him the edge over his teammate.

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Cristian Romero was in action for Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday morning and the quick turnaround with the West Ham game taking place at Saturday lunchtime could possibly give Postecoglou something to think about. As he does have his strongest Tottenham XI in mind, it's hard to see Romero dropping out for Radu Dragusin unless he is in no position to play from the off.

The rest of the team then picks itself.

Guest's team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Kulusevski, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Lee Wilmot - Head of Football

West Ham at home. Three points are all that matters.

It's fair to say probably nine of the 11 positions in the team pick themselves at this moment in time. The back four in front of Guglielmo Vicario should be as you were, although a case can be made for Djed Spence stepping in at left-back.

Destiny Udogie has had an up and down time of it after an injury-hit summer and was at fault for the first of Brighton's three comeback goals last time out, while he did not cover himself in glory with the third either. You know what, I'm going to go with Spence. He's just signed a new contract, he'll be on cloud nine, let's see what he can do.

In midfield is where one of the two really contentious decisions lies - Rodrigo Bentancur or Yves Bissouma at the base of the three? I'm inclined to give Bissouma the nod on this occasion, with Bentancur available from the bench.

Then in the front three it's a case of whether or not Son Heung-min is fit enough to start. Ange Postecoglou has said he hopes to have him available and if that's the case, he starts.

Richarlison being back offers another alternative off the bench too, which is great to see.

Wilmot's team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

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