Spurs expected to start key player against Qarabag to give him confidence boost

The Europa League campaign begins tonight for Tottenham Hotspur, and Ange Postecoglou appears set to go for a strong lineup, with one very important player likely to start the game.

Star striker needs confidence

Spurs begin their journey in the Europa League with a home tie against Azerbaijan outfit Qarabag, and while all teams in the tournament need to be respected, many expect a comfortable win for the Lilywhites to get them off to a good start.

The Europa League presents itself as a very viable opportunity for Tottenham to win a trophy this season for the first time since 2008.

While many fans hope to see some younger players and fringe players getting game-time against Qarabag on Thursday night, Ange Postecoglou will need to strike a delicate balance and ensure his team get the job done.

With this in mind, a report from GiveMeSport sources suggests Dominic Solanke will be given the nod to start the game, though he may end up being taken off in the second half.

The report claims Postecoglou is eager to give his new signing a confidence boost in the early stages of his Spurs career, and that it is hoped this can come in the Europa League game, especially coming off the back of his first goal at the weekend.

Ideally, it seems, the plan would be for Spurs to be in a comfortable position going into the second half, with Solanke on the scoresheet if possible, so that Postecoglou can replace him and allow him to rest ahead of the game against Manchester United on Sunday.

Squad rotation isn’t ideal for Postecoglou

Speaking to the press (via Football.London) on Wednesday, Postecoglou was asked about his plans to rotate the squad this season across the four competitions Spurs are involved in, and the manager appeared to suggest he would rather not rotate too much where possible.

Tottenham are expected to have Will Lankshear on the bench tonight, and it is likely the young striker would be the ideal candidate to replace Solanke on the field, all being well.

Starting Solanke is the right decision

While we should be looking to rest some players tonight, I don’t think Solanke is one of them. He’s just back from injury, he’s got his first goal, and he needs to build momentum. Hopefully, if he can get a goal or two tonight, that will set him up for a positive season.

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