Tottenham Hotspur defender could still be dropped.
Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld could still end up sitting out this evening against Southampton.
This seemed an improbable scenario, with Jan Vertonghen suspended and Davinson Sanchez injured.
Alderweireld was surprisingly dropped for the North London derby, which Tottenham lost 4-2.
It appeared that Alderweireld would be due an instant recall.
Mauricio Pochettino’s comments about Eric Dier yesterday suggest the Belgian could remain benched.
He told Football London: “We’ll see. There are different options. Dier can play there. It’s about trying to be right and in the end win the game.”
Playing Dier in defence removes him as an option in midfield, an area where Spurs are already light due to injuries to Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele.
Alderweireld is one of Tottenham’s two best defenders.
For Mauricio Pochettino to not come out and back him and say he will be a starter, is an insult to the Belgian.
Pochettino may not want to highlight that he was wrong to play Juan Foyth, a notion he has refused to admit despite the team conceding four goals.
Alderweireld was already likely to be feeling slighted by his omission. He won’t be feeling any better this morning, learning Eric Dier could be selected tonight instead of him.
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