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Toby Alderweireld injury leaves Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino with midfield selection dilemma

Moussa Sissoko of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Wembley Stadium on August 27, 2017 in ...
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Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino faces a choice of Mousa Dembele or Moussa Sissoko for the North London derby.

Toby Alderweireld of Tottenham Hotspur is injured during the UEFA Champions League group H match between Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid at Wembley Stadium on November 1, 2017 in London,...

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge injury blow with the news that Toby Alderweireld’s hamstring problem is much more serious than first feared.

Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino told the London Evening Standard that the heavily influential Belgian defender could be out until after the New Year.

Pochettino can slot Eric Dier into his back three without any hesitation, but the England international’s switch to defence provides a selection dilemma in midfield, starting with this Saturday’s visit to Arsenal.

(L-R) Moussa Sissoko, Mousa Dembele and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou of Tottenham Hotspur train during a Tottenham Hotspur training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Group H match...

With Victor Wanyama also on the treatment table, Pochettino must decide whether to go with Mousa Dembele or Moussa Sissoko alongside Harry Winks.

Sissoko has been trusted in big clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester United this season, and is the man in possession after starting against Crystal Palace.

Dembele’s dominance of the centre of the park has been a fixture of North London derbies in recent years, but the Belgian brute is short of match fitness.

Mousa Dembele of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley at Wembley Stadium on August 27, 2017 in London, England.

All four of the 30-year-old’s appearances since his return from injury have been as a substitute, and starting him at Arsenal would be throwing him in at the deep end.

Despite Sissoko’s improvement this term, Dembele would be the prefered option, but any aggravation of his recent injuries would leave Spurs light in midfield for the run to Christmas, with Dier poised for a long run at the back.

Who would you partner Harry Winks with for the North London derby?