How Tottenham Hotspur could line up against Everton

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is expecting to have Pape Sarr back in his ranks for Saturday's early Premier League kickoff against Everton at Goodison Park.

The midfielder has flown home from the Africa Cup of Nations after Senegal's elimination at the hands of Ivory Coast on Monday, although he was not considered for selection against Brentford on Wednesday.

However, Mali's Yves Bissouma and South Korea's Son Heung-min still have international commitments to complete, while Manor Solomon (knee), Giovani Lo Celso (hamstring) and Ryan Sessegnon (hamstring) are still recovering from their afflictions, and Alejo Veliz has left for Sevilla on loan.

With Sarr set to make his North London comeback, Oliver Skipp - who lasted just 45 minutes of the win over Brentford - should drop back down to the bench, as the former links arms with Rodrigo Bentancur in the centre of the field.

Bentancur was also sacrificed at half time in midweek, but the Uruguay international should keep Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - set to stay at the club beyond the end of the January transfer deadline - at bay.

Ahead of the pair, James Maddison should be fine to reprise his creative role despite coming off with cramp in the win over Brentford, and the Englishman should form one part of an unchanged forward line with Timo Werner, Dejan Kulusevski and Richarlison, in spite of Brennan Johnson's goal off the bench against the Bees.

At the other end of the pitch, Radu Dragusin should be kept waiting for his first Lilywhites start, as Pedro Porro, Destiny Udogie, Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero form the Spurs shield on Merseyside.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner; Richarlison