Tottenham training footage hints at Roberto De Zerbi’s possible front four against Man United
The international break is gradually drawing to a close, meaning attention will soon return to domestic football and the Premier League.
For Tottenham Hotspur, the break has provided Roberto De Zerbi with an opportunity to work with several players who remained in north London while others represented their countries.
Spurs have endured a difficult start in front of goal, scoring only twice in their opening five Premier League matches. As a result, the form and fitness of their attacking players will be particularly important when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on October 10.
Some of Tottenham’s players have also enjoyed positive moments while away with their national teams. Omar Marmoush, for example, scored twice for Egypt against Sudan, while Mathys Tel found the net for France Under-21s.
However, De Zerbi has also had the chance to work closely with a number of attacking players who stayed at Hotspur Way during the international break.
Recent training footage released by Tottenham has provided an intriguing glimpse into the Italian manager’s potential plans for the Manchester United clash.
James Maddison, Mohammed Kudus, Savio and Dominic Solanke were all shown heavily involved in first-team training, raising the possibility that the quartet could feature together at Old Trafford.
Maddison is yet to make a Premier League start this season, despite being one of Tottenham’s most creative players. His return to the starting XI could give Spurs an additional source of creativity in the final third, something they have lacked during their difficult opening weeks.
Solanke, meanwhile, has started matches but has yet to produce a goal or assist in the league. The striker has struggled to make a significant impact so far, making the next few weeks potentially important for his future at the club.
Savio has arguably been one of Tottenham’s brighter attacking players whenever given an opportunity. His numbers show a willingness to take on defenders and create opportunities, although he is still waiting for his first goal for Spurs.
Kudus is another player who could be handed a major opportunity. The Ghanaian has yet to start a Premier League game this season but provided an assist after coming off the bench against Aston Villa. He remained in England during the international break as he continued working on his fitness following a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
De Zerbi previously indicated that the players who stayed behind would need to work particularly hard during the break, with Maddison, Solanke, Savio and others among those he specifically mentioned.
That extra training time could now prove significant.
With Tottenham having around ten days to prepare for Manchester United, De Zerbi could decide to introduce a refreshed attacking combination rather than immediately relying on players returning from international duty.
Kudus could potentially operate from the right, with Savio providing width and attacking threat from the opposite flank. Maddison could then occupy the No. 10 position, giving Spurs a creative presence behind the striker.
The biggest question could come in the centre-forward position.
Marmoush’s goals for Egypt may strengthen his case to lead the line, particularly if he can return from international duty in good physical condition. However, the long journey and limited recovery time could influence De Zerbi’s decision.
If Marmoush is not considered ready to start, Solanke could be given another opportunity to lead the attack.
Tottenham will need a significant improvement in the final third if they are to take advantage of Manchester United’s own inconsistent start to the season. The training footage does not confirm De Zerbi’s lineup, but it has certainly provided an interesting indication of the attacking options he is currently working with.
With Maddison, Kudus, Savio and Solanke all training together, Spurs fans could be about to see a new-look attacking setup when Tottenham head to Old Trafford.
