Tottenham lineup vs. Aston Villa: Predicted XI for FA Cup third-round tie

Under-fire Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank will consider making a number of changes to his starting lineup for Saturday’s FA Cup third-round clash with Aston Villa in North London.

Midfielders Lucas Bergvall and Rodrigo Bentancur were both forced off in Spurs’ 3-2 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth on Wednesday. While the former is a doubt with a muscle problem, the latter is expected to miss out with a hamstring issue.

Mohammed Kudus is ruled out until after March’s international break with a thigh injury and he is joined in the treatment room by Destiny Udogie (thigh), Dominic Solanke (ankle), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and James Maddison (ACL).

Backup goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky will be hoping to earn a rare start between the stick at the expense of Guglielmo Vicario, while Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin are both in contention to replace Cristian Romero and Micky Van de Ven at centre-back.

A recall for Ben Davies at left-back could see Djed Spence move over to right-back and Pedro Porro drop down to the substitutes’ bench, while Archie Gray is the most likely candidate to replace Bentancur in midfield and play alongside Joao Palhinha.

Tottenham do not have a natural right-wing option fit and available for this weekend, so Frank could turn to either Wilson Odobert or Randal Kolo Muani to operate on that side, while Xavi Simons, Mathys Tel and Richarlison complete the frontline.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Kinsky; Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Davies; Palhinha, Gray; Kolo Muani, Simons, Tel; Richarlison