Which youngsters may figure against Gillingham - Possible XI

SPURS vs GILLINGHAM

We have a League Cup tie against Gillingham, managed now by former Spurs left-back Justin Edinburgh at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. Edinburgh is doing a good job at the only Football League side in Kent, Gillingham and would one day like to manage his former club.

Edinburgh, who won the League Cup with us in 1999, insists after beating Watford his team are going to Tottenham to try and make Tottenham only the 10th top flight team Gillingham have beaten in their history.

“We’re not going there for the evening out. Whatever team we face it is going to be fantastic. We want to go and achieve something. It’s a big ask but we saw in the last round it can be achieved. 

“The night is about Gillingham. It’s about the players. They got us there and they are the ones who are going to try and cause another upset."

Almost 3,000 Gillingham fans are making their way to London to see their side take on a side we know will contain some youngsters, the question is how many?

To give us a clue we have to look at the Under-23 game that was played on Monday and see who was left out. We played a team of 18-year-old players, with one or two exceptions, so who didn't play from the Academy?

Conner Ogilvie - 20-year-old (21 next February) left-back
Cameron Carter-Peters - 18-year-old (19 in December) centre-back
Harry Winks - 20-year-old (21 next February) central midfield
Luke Amos - 19-year-old (20 next February) defensive midfield
Anthony Georgiou - 19-year-old (20 next February) left midfield
Cy Goddard - 19-year-old (20 next April) attacking midfield
Shayon Harrison - 19-year-old (20 next July) centre-forward

In addition to those there is 21-year-old Pau Lopez (22 in December) the third choice goalkeeper we signed over the summer from Pochettino's former club Espanyol.

Plus:
Josh Onomah 19 (20 in April) midfield
Georges-Kevin N'Koudou 21 (22 next February) winger

You would expect Michel Vorm to start with Pau Lopez on the bench. Kieran Trippier at right-back with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Kevin Wimmer at centre-back. Danny Rose is returning from injury, he could be given a run out or Connor Ogilvie could line up there.

In midfield Harry Winks is bound to start surely after his performances in Australia and he might be paired with a relatively old head in Tom Carroll.

Pochettino will want to give as many a taste as possible with some experience around them so he has to consider who might come on as a substitute. Luke Amos is versatile, Anthony Georgiou and Cy Goddarrd would form a very young quartet in midfield so a couple may have to come off the bench, especially with Josh Onomah another certain to play.

Georges-Kevin N'Koudou is a member of the first team squad but doesn't speak any English, which despite what some may think is an issue. Roberto Soldado had the same problem, but he did have Spanish speaking players and staff around him. N'Koudou only speaks French and although we have some French speakers it isn't ideal that it takes longer for the staff to get their message across and thta some of the players can't communicate with him. You would expect to see him playing though.

Up front Vincent Janssen may be given 45 minutes or an hour with Shayon Harrison likely to feature at some point.

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