Fiorentina vs Tottenham team news: Harry Kane benched as Mauricio Pochettino makes six changes
The club's leading scorer starts on the bench after scoring the opener in last Sunday’s Premier League victory at Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur have made six changes for tonight’s first leg of their round of 32 Europa League tie against Fiorentina in Florence.
Leading scorer Harry Kane starts on the bench after scoring the opener in last Sunday’s Premier League victory at Manchester City, with Kyle Walker, Danny Rose, Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier also dropping to the bench.
Club captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had already been ruled out with a shoulder injury, which could also keep him out of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Crystal Palace. Dutchman Michel Vorm takes his place – his sixth appearance of the season, all but the first of those coming in Cup competitions.
Kieran Trippier, who scored the winner against Watford in the league 12 days ago, and Ben Davies come in as manager Mauricio Pochettino again rotates his full-backs, while Tom Carroll and Ryan Mason start in the centre – the latter captaining the side on his first appearance in nearly three months.
Nacer Chadli is afforded a rare starting berth up front, ahead of a front three of Christan Eriksen, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min who all started at the Etihad four days ago.
Luke McGee, the goalkeeper, and Josh Onomah complete the bench as Spurs seek to become the first English side to beat Fiorentina in four matches.
Tottenham exited the competition at the same stage to the same club last season, drawing 1-1 at home in the first leg – Roberto Soldado scoring – before losing 2-0 away, in a match that took place less than three days before the Capital One Cup final defeat to Chelsea at Wembley.
Line-ups
Fiorentina: Tatarusanu; Gonzalo, Tomovic, Astori, Alonso; Costa, Blaszczykowski, Borja; Zarate, Bernardeschi, Ilicic
Substitutes: To follow...
Tottenham Hotspur: Vorm; Trippier, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Davies; Carroll, Mason; Eriksen, Alli, Son; Chadli.
Substitutes: McGee, Rose, Walker, Dembele, Dier, Onomah, Kane
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies