Ange Postecoglou will have calls to make over Cristian Romero and James Maddison going into Saturday's game against Man City(Image: Mark Leech/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

Romero injury decision, Maddison debate - The Tottenham team Postecoglou must pick vs Man City

by · football.london

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham side are going to have to be at their very best on Saturday evening if they are to return to winning ways in the Premier League. Coming up against Ipswich Town in their last fixture prior to the international break, Spurs fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at home.

Tottenham now have the huge challenge of trying to put things right away at Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. The games between the sides at the Etihad Stadium have been rather eye-catching in recent seasons and goals and entertainment could once again be guaranteed.

There are question marks over Cristian Romero's fitness heading into this weekend's match after the Argentina international only managed 45 minutes in his country's defeat to Paraguay. Spurs will also be without Rodrigo Bentancur as he sits out the first of seven games due to suspension.

So who exactly should be in Postecoglou's Tottenham team to face Manchester City? Our Tottenham reporters at football.london have had their say below:

Alasdair Gold - Tottenham Hotspur correspondent

Spurs had to put together a makeshift central defence last season at the Etihad Stadium with Ben Davies and Emerson Royal pairing up and the former could be called on again with Radu Dragusin this time if Cristian Romero is not considered fit enough to start. The Argentine's foot injury flared up on international duty and he had to come off at half-time in the defeat in Paraguay and a couple of days later he became a father for a second time when his partner gave birth to a little girl named Lucy.

Everyone else appears to have got through the international break unscathed, including Dejan Kulusevski who was in pain with a shoulder injury late in a sparkling performance for Sweden. Postecoglou revealed on Thursday that Micky van de Ven will not be back and available from his hamstring injury until the middle of next month.

With Rodrigo Bentancur suspended and Yves Bissouma likely to start, the main midfield decision will come with either Pape Matar Sarr or James Maddison starting and the Spurs boss might just need the Senegal international's energy and defensive work against the champions.

Gold's team: Vicario; Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Udogie; Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

READ MORE: Ange Postecoglou hints at Micky van de Ven Tottenham return date and reveals Man City injury doubt

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Rob Guest - Football writer

It's hard to see Ange Postecoglou tinkering with his Tottenham team too much despite the defeat against Ipswich Town last time out. The head coach is rather limited at present because of a handful of injuries, with Rodrigo Bentancur now joining the list of absent players because of his seven-match domestic ban.

The big question heading into Saturday's game now revolves around Cristian Romero as Postecoglou admitted that the 26-year-old is definitely a doubt for the game in Manchester. Romero starts if in a position to do so, but it will be Ben Davies who takes his place alongside Radu Dragusin if the World Cup winner misses out.

It's an easy pick when it comes to Bentancur's replacement as Yves Bissouma gets the nod in midfield with Pape Matar Sarr and Dejan Kulusevski. That means James Maddison has to contend with a place on the substitutes' bench to begin with once again.

Brennan Johnson and Son Heung-min enjoyed good international breaks and the hope will be that they can take their form into the Man City game. The duo will start either side of Dominic Solanke at the Etihad Stadium.

Guest's team: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Dragusin, Udogie; Bissouma, Sarr, Kulusevski; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

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