Spurs updated predicted XI v Man City: £23m man returns to line-up, bold Mourinho call up front

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Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action on Saturday evening with a tough fixture ahead of them.

Jose Mourinho’s Spurs host Manchester City in North London, and could go top of the league with a victory.

Tottenham, currently second, would go eight points clear of Pep Guardiola’s side should they triumph, but a defeat would see the gap cut to two points.

So, who could Mourinho pick in his starting XI for the big game?

Let’s look first of all at the latest team news, as per Jose Mourinho’s pre-match press conference on Friday.

Son Heung-min is fine to play following his scare on international duty, having tested negative twice and followed all the relevant protocols.

Steven Bergwijn is also available for selection, having recovered from injury, but Harry Winks and Erik Lamela are doubts, while Matt Doherty is having to self-isolate and won’t feature.

Mourinho also admitted he hadn’t seen Davinson Sanchez or Gedson Fernandes ahead of the 3pm training session, but “no problems” besides the aforementioned players.

The goalkeeper and defence pretty much picks itself – Hugo Lloris, Sergio Reguilon, Eric Dier and Toby Alderweireld should keep their places from the win over West Brom last time out.

With Doherty unavailable, Serge Aurier will likely take his place, and the £23million man will hope to find form following a difficult international break with Ivory Coast.

The midfield could look familiar too, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg now indispensable for Spurs and Moussa Sissoko able to cover the space left behind by Aurier when he goes further upfield.

In front of the pivot, Son Heung-min, Tanguy Ndombele and Harry Kane are also shoo-ins in the XI, but then Mourinho has a decision to make on the right-hand side.

Given the attacking strength of the opposition, he could potentially look to set his team up more defensively, which means Lucas Moura would likely get the nod over Gareth Bale.

As well as enabling Bale to have a rest after being in action for Wales, the £80,000-a-week Brazilian also has a tendency to drop back and carry out defensive duties.

Spurs predicted starting XI v Man City (4-2-3-1): Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Dier, Reguilon; Sissoko, Hojbjerg; Lucas, Ndombele, Son; Kane