But a host of first team stars could still start at White Hart Lane.
Spurs have already qualified as winners of Europa League group K and face a crunch Premier League clash with second place Liverpool on Sunday, who they currently trail by three points.
Boss Andre Villas-Boas has said he will make ‘seven or eight’ changes for the visit of once-wealthy Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala but a host of first team stars are still expected to play at White Hart Lane.
Here’s our predicted line-up:
GK: Brad Friedel
The 76-year-old American started the Europa League matches against Sheriff and Tromso last month and is likely to face Anzhi, with under-performing number one Hugo Lloris set to be rested.
RB: Ryan Fredericks
With Villas-Boas lacking cover at full-back, expect 21-year-old academy product Fredericks to play at right-back. The youngster was included in the squad for the matches with Sheriff and Tromso in November but did not play.
LB: Kyle Naughton
Spurs’ left-back curse continued this week, with Jan Vertonghen ruled out for a month with an ankle complaint. Thankfully Danny Rose is now fit but Villas-Boas has said the 23-year-old will only be handed a ‘few minutes’ against the Russians; that leaves the right-footed and distinctly average Naughton as the only option to play from the start.
CB: Zeki Fryers
Man United academy product Fryers is a left-back by trade but is likely to be required centrally, with Vertonghen, Vlad Chiriches and Younes Kaboul all unfit, and Michael Dawson likely to be rested. Fryers is raw but played at centre-half in pre-season and should have enough to cope with Anzhi’s threat.
CB: Etienne Capoue
Like Fryers, the enforcer is likely to be used out of position at centre-half but Capoue did a great job filling in at Sunderland. With Kaboul and Chiriches doubts for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool and Vertonghen definitely out, the Frenchman may have to play three games in a week.
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