Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League season begins this Saturday afternoon with Southampton the visitors to north London.
Spurs have been busy this summer with six new players coming in through the doors so far in Ivan Perisic, Fraser Forster, Yves Bissouma, Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Djed Spence. However, due to a combination of injuries, fitness and suspension, Antonio Conte's first starting XI for the new campaign is expected to look very similar to the team that ended the last season in fourth place.
Richarlison is suspended, while Conte told football.london on Thursday that Perisic is still trying to get his fitness back following his recovery from a calf injury and Yves Bissouma has a hamstring tweak that the Tottenham boss indicated means he might not be risked.
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On the right, Matt Doherty is in a similar situation to Perisic as he works his way back from a knee injury. The Irishman appears to be Conte's first choice for the role following recent comment from the Italian, but the fitter Emerson Royal could get the nod in the opening couple of matches of the season, while 21-year-old Spence needs to get up to speed with his fitness and adapt to the step up to the Premier League.
In the back three, Ben Davies is expected to be ready to return to action for the match which should see him get the nod over Davinson Sanchez and Lenglet, as the on-loan Frenchman continues to adapt to Conte's demands in the back three and fitness requirements.
Here is the team we reckon Conte will select for Saturday's league opener.
(3-4-3) Lloris; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
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