Antonio Conte has a decision to make when it comes to his Tottenham wing-backs to take on AC Milan in their Champions League Round of 16 second leg tie. Trailing 1-0 from the opener following Brahim Diaz's early strike at the San Siro, the pressure is very much on the Lilywhites with a place in the quarter-finals of Europe's premier competition there for the taking.
On the left, Ivan Perisic looks set to start with no other options really available to the head coach due to Ryan Sessegnon's injury. Eric Dier's suspension for the return leg also complicates things for Conte as that means Ben Davies will take his place in the back three unless the boss springs a surprise and calls one of Davinson Sanchez or Japhet Tanganga into the backline.
On the right, things are a bit more complicated for Conte as he has Emerson Royal and Pedro Porro to choose from. The Brazilian started at the San Siro and was one of Spurs' standout players on the night, before again impressing in the West Ham and Chelsea wins that followed.
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Emerson has dropped down to the substitutes' bench in the last week, however, with Porro getting a run in the side against Sheffield United and Wolves. Handed the game time needed in his quest to try and quickly adapt to life in England, the January signing did look bright at Molineux and notably struck the crossbar with a powerful free-kick that had Jose Sa beaten.
That wasn't it from Porro in terms of threatening the Wolves goal as he saw a looping, deflected strike tipped over by the goalkeeper midway through the second half. Porro is starting to find his feet at Tottenham and he came in for praise from Cristian Stellini after the 1-0 defeat.
"Pedro Porro played a good game like all the team," said the assistant head coach when asked by football.london. "We know Pedro Porro is this type of player. We need to help him to adapt himself to a new league but today he was important for us. The only thing is be ready, nasty and aggressive in the way you have to kill the game."
Conte's right wing-back choice for Wednesday's Champions League clash is not so simple at all. As well as Emerson has been playing of late, Porro has given him food for thought with his display at Molineux. What perhaps may also strengthen the Spaniard's case is that the European games will suit him more at present while he tries to fully adapt to the pace and intensity of the Premier League.
The 23-year-old has experience of playing in European competition in each of the past three seasons, with 12 of those appearances coming in the Champions League. Playing seven times in the competition last season as Sporting CP came up against Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Besiktas and Man City, he contributed with one goal in the team's home victory over Dortmund.
This term he has one assist to his name from his five appearances after teeing up Nuno Santos for Sporting's third and final goal in their brilliant 3-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt. Due to AC Milan's one-goal advantage heading into the second leg and Tottenham needing to turn things around, Conte very much needs his attackers to be at the top of their game if they are to progress past the Rossoneri.
The wing-backs fall into the same category as they are a focal point in the head coach's vision and much is expected of them in an attacking sense. That hasn't always been the case for Conte during his short time at Tottenham but hopefully the addition of Porro will help transform Spurs' right flank and be a gamechanger for them.
After all, he contributed with three goals and 11 assists in 26 appearances for Sporting this campaign. The hope is that he will be able to replicate or better those numbers at Tottenham, with Wednesday's Champions League showdown against AC Milan an ideal place for him to start.
Given the need to attack, Porro's European experience and the continental style of football, the Round of 16 clash may suit him down to the ground. If that is the case and he is given the nod over Emerson, he could well be a decisive figure as Tottenham look to deliver a hammer blow to their opponents and reach the last eight.
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