Ange Postecoglou knows that the Tottenham squad he currently has available will have to get him through the next round of the Europa League. Given the form, both in Europe and also in the Premier League, it is easier said than done.

Spurs are far from assured to be in the last-16 despite winning their opening three games. A total of 11 points from the first six matches is enough to put them in ninth, but that is not yet out of reach for those teams seeking to get into the top-24.

Sitting in upper-mid-table, Tottenham are still in the race to automatically secure a place in the knock-out rounds, which will be played in March, but also know that if current form doesn't improve then they could find themselves in a battle to avoid an unwanted two-leg play-off tie and also to get through in general.

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Four teams outside the top-24 can still catch them.

Albeit unlikely, Spurs know that anything other than two points from their remaining games will leave them open to heading out. It would take a near-impossible set of results for that to happen, but it is still on the cards for now after a run of two draws and a defeat in their last three games in the competition.

Should they make hard work of upcoming fixtures away to Hoffenheim - and then at home to Elfsborg - a play-off might yet be needed. To make matters worse for Postecoglou, who has a busy schedule ahead with Carabao Cup and FA Cup demands, any January transfers will have to sit out their last two Europa League group phase matches.

Spurs have already added goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky to their squad in what already looks to have been a shrewd piece of business. He has acted as cover for the injured Guglielmo Vicario.

In a blow, Kinsky won't be able to play in the Europa League, leaving the experienced Fraser Forster in line for yet more appearances this month. Vicario will hope to be back before long, but may well leave Kinsky as first choice in Europe.

The new signing can only be added to the squad after the league phase ends, though. The same will be true of any other transfers Tottenham could make this month.

The club are in need of mid-season reinforcements after yet another set of injury woes for Postecolglou. Among the linked players are Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford and Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani.

PSG, themselves, have already fallen foul to the UEFA rules with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia unable to feature in their crucial Champions League games coming up. Luis Enrique's side will not be able to count on their new £60million man in the bid to secure qualification for the next round themselves.

Manchester City are in a similar spot. Fortunately for Tottenham, though, their better start to European action has left Postecoglou without as much to worry about.

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