Ange Postecoglou fires Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min could miss Tottenham’s game against Roma.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024, 5:40 p.m., United Kingdom

Ange Postecoglou could miss out on Son Heung-min when his side host Roma in the UEFA Europa League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday.

Spurs will be full of confidence after beating Manchester City 4-0 in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday (November 23).

As a result, fans will be expecting their team to make it two wins in a row when Roma visit north London (November 27).

On paper, this is one of Spurs’ more difficult games in the Europa League. However, Roma have struggled this season and are currently 12th in Serie A and 20th in the Europa League standings.

This gives Postecoglou’s side a golden chance to win four out of five in this European Cup season and has a good chance of qualifying for the next round from the top eight.

However, Spurs are struggling with some injury problems, while Postecoglou will also be keen to make a move given a busy fixture list.

Ange Postecoglou makes six changes for Tottenham against Roma

Postecoglou’s first of a possible six changes will be a forced one after it was confirmed on Monday (via Fabrizio Romano, November 25) that Guglielmo Vicario has undergone surgery for an ankle fracture.

Vicario was excellent against City, making five saves, preventing 1.10 goals (Sofascore). However, he will have no choice but to sit out this game with Fraser Forster likely to replace him.

Micky van de Ven is out until mid-December, meaning Radu Drăgușin should keep his place. Meanwhile, Postecoglou recently said (via Football London, November 22) that he was confident Cristian Romero would return this week.

However, the Argentine is unlikely to be at risk in the Europa League, meaning Ben Davies could also keep his place.

Davies and Drăgușin put in an excellent performance against City, with the latter winning two of his three ground duels, while the former cleared six balls and Spurs kept an impressive clean sheet away to the champions.

With Davies likely to fill in at centre-back, Postecoglou will have to call on one of his first-choice full-backs and, just like in the last game against Galatasaray in the Europa League, Pedro Porro could keep his place at right-back while Archie Gray completes the back four.

Rodrigo Bentancur is currently banned domestically, a punishment that could still be changed. However, the midfielder is still eligible to play in Europe and Postecoglou could use this as an opportunity to give Yves Bissouma a rest.

Meanwhile, James Maddison will expect to keep his place after an impressive performance at the Etihad, where he scored a brace, completed 100 per cent of his dribbles and won nine of his 13 ground duels.

Finally, Lucas Bergvall could step in to give Pape Matar Sarr a much-needed break.

Ange Postecoglou omits Son Heung-min for Tottenham against Roma

Brennan Johnson came on as a substitute against City and secured Spurs’ fourth-place finish, while also completing 100 percent of his passes and dribbling.

He will likely replace Dejan Kulusevski, who was excellent against Pep Guardiola’s side. The Swede picked up one assist, completed 100 percent of his dribbles, won 100 percent of his ground duels and played four important passes.

Postecoglou will definitely want to rest Kulusevski as there are still so many big games ahead of him. Unfortunately, it looks like the Australian will have no choice but to start Dominic Solanke with Will Lankshear suspended and Richarlison out injured.

So with two key first-team players already starting in the front three, Postecoglou will likely be keen to rest Son, who played two key passes and provided an assist against City.

Son could be replaced by Mikey Moore, who is expected to return against Roma after falling ill with a virus.

In other Tottenham news, Kulusevski has sent a message following injury news in north London.

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