All eyes will be on the Tottenham team news when it is announced at 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon. After finally managing to wrap up the signing of Pedro Porro from Sporting CP on transfer deadline day, Spurs supporters are desperate to see their new man in action against Man City.
Coming to the attention of the Lilywhites following his eye-catching displays at right wing-back for the Portuguese side, many believe that the new addition can help solve Tottenham's issues in that area of the pitch, especially after contributing with three goals and 11 assists for Sporting this campaign. Asked in his pre-match press conference if Porro may come into the team from the off, assistant head coach Cristian Stellini outlined that the player is available and that they can use him when the wing-back's former club make the trip to the capital.
"Could be," said the Italian on if Porro is in contention to face the reigning champions. "He is young but he has great experience. He plays in a similar system we use to play and he is available.
READ MORE: Every word Stellini said on Conte Tottenham return, if Pedro Porro will start and Doherty exit
"We can use him in two days. We have another training session. He can improve, he is a great player, technical he is a good player and we were impressed by his performance against us. We know very well him."
Having seen a number of the squad strike up impressive partnerships in recent seasons, all will be hoping that Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski can hit it off instantly down the right flank. What certainly bodes well for the new man is that Tottenham's right wing-backs have thrived with the Swede ahead of them.
Matt Doherty, who departed for Atletico Madrid on deadline day, built up such a good understanding with Kulusevski in the final few months of last campaign and it became a real weapon for the team. The first glimpse of the duo in action came in last February's 4-0 triumph over Leeds United as the Irishman teed up his teammate for their second of the afternoon.
Doherty's season-ending knee injury at Aston Villa unfortunately left Conte without that partnership in what remained of the 2021/22 campaign, and then also in the first few months of this term with both spending time on the sidelines. However, that understanding was there for all to see in November's defeat against Liverpool as they both combined for Harry Kane's goal just over a minute after Conte introduced the pair from the bench.
Speaking following their friendly win against Motherwell in December, Doherty outlined the importance of Kulusevski to the team and just how easy it is to be play alongside him "as he understands peoples' games around him".
"He's vitally important," the 31-year-old told SPURSPLAY. "You see what he brings to the table when he plays and you see how he impacts the team when he doesn't play. Always involved with going forward, whether he's scoring or creating, and just personally for myself I love playing with him as he understands peoples' games around him and understands my game.
"I like to combine and link so when I give him the ball he can usually lay it off one touch and we seem to link up well together. He's a pleasure to play with and we're glad to have him back."
In that 4-0 win over Motherwell, another potential partnership appeared to be in the making as Kulusevski and Djed Spence linked up incredibly well as they gave the Scottish side a host of problems. Although that never developed and was never really on display in the first team due to Spence's extremely limited minutes, it did highlight that Kulusevski is such a smart and clever player and that he can naturally build up an instant connection with whoever plays down the right with him.
"It's no training. It's just sometimes you just feel good with some players, and I feel good with everybody," he told football.london after the Liverpool defeat in November. "I have to watch what they are good on and Matt [Doherty] likes to do small passes and do small movements, so I try to give him the ball and help him on the overlap."
Now having had a couple of days alongside Porro at their Enfield base and having that opportunity to study the Spaniard's game, the duo could very well be unleashed against Pep Guardiola's Man City on Sunday afternoon. Of course that instant rapport may not be there to begin with but the examples of Kulusevski playing with Doherty and Spence demonstrate to everyone that there is so much potential of the duo forming such a successful partnership in the years ahead.
Such an important player in Conte's system and someone who raises the game of those around him, Kulusevski could indeed help Porro hit a whole new level for Tottenham.
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