Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold has predicted that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur will start in Tottenham’s opening Premier League fixture against Southampton.
Spurs have now concluded their pre-season preparations and all eyes will now be on Saturday’s match at home to the Saints in North London.
Antonio Conte has had the opportunity to experiment with his squad over the summer and got a chance to acquaint himself with his six new signings, including Brighton arrival Yves Bissouma.
The Mali international had a relatively disrupted pre-season with a bout of Covid during Spurs’ trip to South Korea ruling him out of action and losing valuable match time.
While Bissouma returned for the final two friendlies against Rangers and Roma, Spurs then frustratingly lost Oliver Skipp to a foot injury which could keep him out of the Southampton game (Football London).
With less than one week to go until Spurs kick off their league campaign, Gold believes Conte will revert to last season’s tried and tested partnership of Hojbjerg and Bentancur for the first encounter.
He said (via Football.London): “In the centre of the pitch, Yves Bissouma still needs work to get that Conte fitness and his sharpness, particularly after this month’s bout of Covid.”
Gold added: “Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur looks to be the likely partnership in the middle next Saturday.”
Spurs Web Opinion
A partnership of Hojbjerg and Bentancur for Southampton looks to be the safest bet for Spurs and Conte given the uncertainties with Bissouma and Skipp.
But within a couple of games, all the players should be fit and up to match sharpness which should provide plenty of healthy competition going forward.
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