Tottenham return to Premier League action with a trip to Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium on Monday lunchtime.
Spurs haven’t conceded a goal against Brentford in the 21st century, keeping five successive clean sheets. Lloyd Owusu is the last Bee to find the net against Tottenham, a striker who has since retired and describes himself as a “Brentford Hall of Famer, Player Consultant and all round cool guy”.
Here’s the XI Antonio Conte may deploy to preserve Tottenham’s defensive resolve in this fixture and claim a seventh consecutive Boxing Day victory for the club.
GK: Fraser Forster – Hugo Lloris won’t have any celebrations to attend in Paris but may not be forced back into club football just eight days after France’s World Cup final defeat.
CB: Eric Dier – Cristian Romero – on the other hand – will very much be involved in the festivities back in Argentina. Conte’s utter lack of faith in Sanchez saw Dier shifted wide of the back three in Romero’s absence before the winter break – a role he may return to this Monday.
CB: Clement Lenglet – Overlooked by France for the trip to Qatar, Lenglet has had an uninterrupted six weeks to prepare for the return of Premier League football.
CB: Ben Davies – The Wales international suffered an abdominal injury in the World Cup defeat to England but has made a full recovery since his nation’s group-stage exit.
RWB: Emerson Royal – After his first season in England, Emerson hired a “mind coach” and neuroscientist to improve his focus during matches.
CM: Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – Just a month before Hojbjerg started in the German Cup final and made his senior international debut, his father passed away. “From a sports perspective the season really finished on a high,” Hojbjerg summarised, “but from a life perspective it really finished on a low.”
CM: Yves Bissouma – “If I don’t play football, I’m not happy,” Bissouma revealed upon his Tottenham unveiling. Rodrigo Bentancur’s suspension should ensure Bissouma is in good spirits this Boxing Day.
LWB: Ryan Sessegnon – There’s never a good time to get an injury but the hamstring problem Sessegnon sustained just before the international break was timed as well as any mid-season fitness concern.
RW: Dejan Kulusevski – The Sweden international has been available for less than half the available Premier League minutes this season (45%) but is Tottenham’s leading…
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