Tottenham Hotspur kickstart their UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday when they play hosts to LASK. The Lilywhites are under pressure to deliver following a demoralising 3-3 draw with West Ham on Sunday, with manager Jose Mourinho keen on securing all three points this midweek. And here, we take a look at three Tottenham players could play a key role against LASK.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale didn’t enjoy the best of return to Tottenham as his side squandered a three-goal lead right after his introduction.
The Welshman will be hoping for better fortunes on Thursday as he looks forward to making his first start since returning to north London. The forward played in an interesting central role in attack against West Ham, and it won’t be surprising to see him operate in a similar position this time around, as Mourinho is most likely to rest Harry Kane.
Bale’s combination with the likes of Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura and Carlos Vinicius could go a long way in shaping Tottenham’s fate in this fixture. As for the player himself, this game will serve as an ideal opportunity to start a new chapter, following a disappointing couple of years at Santiago Bernabeu.
Harry Winks
Harry Winks is a guaranteed starter for Tottenham this midweek, with Mourinho set to reshuffle his pack in midfield in light of a tedious footballing schedule.
Winks was benched in the last game in favour of the likes of Moussa Sissoko and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. So this game will serve as an opportunity for him to make a mark and thereby push for a place in the starting lineup in the coming weekend.
The Englishman didn’t add much after coming on a substitute against West Ham. He, therefore, is in desperate need for a positive display when Tottenham take on LASK, where Winks will be in charge of anchoring the midfield.
Davinson Sanchez
Tottenham Hotspur are missing out on the services of Japhet Tanganga in this game while new signing Joe Rodon is not eligible to feature. It means Davinson Sanchez could be another guaranteed starter in central defence.
The Colombian has improved a lot under Mourinho, emerging as the key component in the Tottenham backline. His defensive discipline and physical prowess could be essential for Spurs in dealing with the LASK attackers.
Especially following the West Ham debacle on Sunday, it will also be an opportunity for Sanchez to redeem himself, with Tottenham likely to prioritise keeping a clean sheet here.
