Tottenham Hotspur are set to be without as many as 11 players for Friday's FA Cup third round tie at home against Burnley.
While captain Son Heung-min has linked up with South Korea for the Asian Cup, both Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr – who has extended his contract until 2030 – will represent Mali and Senegal respectively at the Africa Cup of Nations over the next month.
In addition, Spurs' treatment room remains packed as Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Ryan Sessegnon (all hamstring), James Maddison, Alfie Whiteman (both ankle), Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic (both knee) and Alejo Veliz (foot) are all nursing injuries and are set to miss out against the Clarets.
Oliver Skipp managed to shake off a knock to feature as a second-half substitute in the 3-1 Premier League win over Bournemouth on New Year's Eve, and the midfielder will be pushing for a rare start under Ange Postecoglou on Friday.
Rodrigo Bentancur surprisingly started in the same match, returning six weeks ahead of schedule following an ankle injury, and he will be in contention to feature again against Burnley, although Postecoglou may look to manage his minutes, so Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg could deputise in the middle of the pitch.
After watching a much-rotated Spurs side crash out in the EFL Cup second round to Fulham back in August, Postecoglou will be wary of making mass changes once again on Friday, but the club's lengthy list of absentees is somewhat restricting the Australian anyway.
Nevertheless, a few fringe players are expected to be given first-team opportunities including goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who could replace Guglielmo Vicario, while centre-backs Eric Dier and 18-year-old Ashley Phillips will hope to force their way into the first XI.
Dejan Kulusevski is available to return after serving a one-match ban last time out, and he is set to compete with Bryan Gil, Brennan Johnson and Richarlison for a start in attack.
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Forster; Emerson, Dier, Davies, Udogie; Skipp, Hojbjerg, Lo Celso; Kulusevski, Richarlison, Gil
Oliver Thomas
