How Tottenham Hotspur could line up against Manchester United

Werner has already been integrated into the group since joining from RB Leipzig on loan, while Dragusin's permanent switch from Genoa was confirmed on Thursday night, although he is still awaiting his work permit.

Ange Postecoglou is confident that there will be no problems with the necessary documentation, but the Australian is still without an abundance of injured players, including James Maddison (ankle) and long-term knee victims Manor Solomon, Ivan Perisic and Alejo Veliz.

In addition, Ben Davies (hamstring) and Giovani Lo Celso (unspecified) picked up issues in last week's FA Cup win over Burnley which will rule them out of this one, and young striker Dane Scarlett is also nursing a muscular concern.

Tottenham's lengthy list of absentees also includes international trio Yves Bissouma, Pape Sarr and Son Heung-min, while Cristian Romero is back in training following a hamstring issue but only has a slim chance of taking on the Red Devils.

Thankfully for Postecoglou, Van de Ven was back on the bench against Burnley following his own layoff with a similar problem, and the Dutchman is now primed to take Davies's place in front of Guglielmo Vicario.

Romero's lack of match fitness could tempt Postecoglou into selecting Dragusin from the off, but it is difficult to envisage the Romanian being thrown straight into the XI with so little preparation, meaning that Emerson Royal could once again join Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie at the back.

Oliver Skipp and Rodrigo Bentancur should hold the midfield fort while Sarr and Bissouma are away at the African Cup of Nations, and Lo Celso's injury ought to see Dejan Kulusevski operate in the number 10 position.

With Kulusevski being shifted centrally, ex-Chelsea man Werner is a candidate to make his second Premier League debut on the wing, as Brennan Johnson and Richarlison complete the Lilywhites' attack.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Emerson, Van de Ven, Udogie; Skipp, Bentancur; Johnson, Kulusevski, Werner; Richarlison