match90mins.com understands that Dejan Kulusevski is not included in Tottenham’s matchday squad for their match against Manchester United due to a persistent illness that has affected the team. The Sweden international will be sorely missed at Old Trafford since he has been a very key member of Ange Postecoglou’s team this season.
Kulusevski has flourished under the new Tottenham manager in both wide and central roles, turning in a number of standout displays in the latter capacity when James Maddison was sidelined. Postecoglou had another setback when Kulusevski was unable to play in addition to Son Heung-min and Giovani Lo Celso, who were already known to be absent for the match.
Because of this, Timo Werner, who signed with Spurs earlier this week, was given his debut, and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was put back in the starting lineup. With January addition Radu Dragusin on the bench, defensemen Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero both start after making a full recovery from their injuries.
Postecoglou appeared to have ruled Romero out of the match on Friday, but with Dragusin entering, the Argentine’s comeback seems ideal—at least for him. Postecoglou now has three central defenders at his disposal, with van van Ven and Romero both returning from extended absences from the squad, giving them an opportunity to make their Dragusin debuts. The team has been without a central defender for a few months.
The Netherlands international has been out of the team for the past two months, although he has spent several weeks participating in full team training. Romero, on the other hand, didn’t play on the grass again until earlier this week at Hotspur Way, where Postecoglou evidently saw enough of him to start him.
It is probable that Ben Davies’ hamstring ailment also contributed to the choice to start Romero on Sunday afternoon. Regarding the dynamic in the midfield, it’s highly likely that Rodrigo Bentancur is allowed to attack when Hojbjerg and Oliver Skipp are on the team.
