Kieran Trippier is expected to miss Tottenham’s opener against Newcastle through injury, so who will play at right-back?
Kieran Trippier is expected to miss Tottenham Hotspur’s 2017/18 opener against Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday after suffering an ankle injury in pre-season, reports the Telegraph.
Trippier picked up the problem during a friendly against Juventus and with Kyle Walker having also left for Manchester City this summer, manager Mauricio Pochettino has a selection headache at right-back heading into the new campaign.
Kieran Trippier of Spurs goes off injured during the pre-season match against Juventus.
So with less than a week to go until that game at St James’ Park, here are three possible options for Pochettino in the absence of the 26-year-old.
Sign a new right-back
This is of course easier said than done, especially for Spurs who are the only club in the English top flight yet to make any new signings this window.
That said, Trippier’s injury has already proven support is needed in the position before a ball has even been kicked and currently Valencia’s Joao Cancelo or Ricardo Pereira of Porto look like the most likely options.
Play Kyle Walker-Peters
The, almost, namesake of City’s new signing from Tottenham is expected to make his mark on the first team over the coming years after impressing in the Under-23s.
However, Pochettino does not believe Walker-Peters is ready just yet and it would be a big ask for the 20-year-old to make his senior debut in such an important fixture and in such an important position.
Eric Dier of Spurs in action during the pre-season match against Juventus.
Play Eric Dier at right-back
The England international’s role at the club has changed so much since he joined from Sporting Lisbon three years ago it is easy to forget Dier was initially used on the right side of defence.
That was in a back four, however, and with the 23-year-old’s new position being central defence/defensive midfield, playing at wing-back may be a stretch and Pochettino would have to consider switching from his favoured 3-4-3 formation.
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