Tottenham predicted starting XI v Aston Villa… ‘excellent’ player benched as 22-year-old given the nod

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Tottenham Hotspur got back to winning ways last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Three points kept them on track in the Champions League race with Aston Villa also picking up maximum points later that day against Luton Town.

The two sides will face off at Villa Park on Sunday as Tottenham – who have a game in hand – will look to close the five-point gap on Unai Emery’s side.

Ange Postecoglou will be delighted to welcome his first-choice right-back, Pedro Porro, back into the fold with the Spaniard having returned to training this week.

Porro missed the last two games after sustaining a muscular injury which forced him to watch from the sidelines.

But it is not all good news on the injury front as the Australian confirmed Spurs would be, once again, missing Richarlison.

Speaking from Hotspur Way on Friday, Postecoglou said the Brazilian is still in rehab despite suggestions from the player that he was going to return for Sunday.

Pape Matar Sarr may not be able to feature from the start again as the Senegalese midfielder is said to be dealing with a minor back issue.

One predicted change for Tottenham’s trip to Villa Park

Richarlison’s absence will likely see club captain Heung-min Son feature through the middle again and, therefore, Timo Werner will likely play on the left.

The German was able to find the back of the net for the first time in a Spurs shirt against Palace and will be hoping to push on from there.

But the potential change could come on the other side of the front line.

Dejan Kulusevski’s spot in the starting XI may be coming under threat with the Swede having returned just one goal this year.

In comparison, summer signing Brennan Johnson is enjoying a rich vein of form which has seen him provide two assists from the bench last weekend alone.

A lot of the Welshman’s damage has been done off the bench, but his electric display on Saturday may have just earned him the nod from the start.

Kulusevski has been hailed as ‘excellent‘, but his recent run of form may have just forced the Australian’s hand.

Predicted Tottenham XI v Brentford (4-3-3): Vicario, Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison, Werner, Son Heung-min, Johnson