Spurs predicted XI v Aston Villa: £100k-a-week man drops out as Mourinho makes Lo Celso decision

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Tottenham Hotspur will hope to end a dismal week on a winning note in their last Premier League encounter before the international break.

Jose Mourinho’s charges lost in the North London derby last Sunday before suffering a shock elimination from the Europa League in their midweek defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

Up next for Spurs is Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa, a side winless in three, but going into the game on the back of two draws.

Mourinho has quite a few decisions to make for his starting XI, bearing in mind so many players let the side down on Thursday, not to mention having played 120 minutes.

The defence could see a couple of changes, with Sergio Reguilon, Toby Alderweireld and Matt Doherty likely to come back in, and only Davinson Sanchez keeping his place.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Tanguy Ndombele should return in midfield, while Gareth Bale will probably come in for the suspended Erik Lamela.

Giovani Lo Celso was one of Tottenham’s few positives on Thursday night and could be handed his first start of 2021 in the absence of Son Heung-min.

Dele Alli struggled against Dinamo, so Lucas Moura could be shifted to No. 10 in place of the £100,000-a-week playmaker.

And up front, Harry Kane is likely to start – even though he could do with a rest, he’s too good not to include in the XI if available.

Spurs predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Doherty, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Bale, Lucas, Lo Celso; Kane