OPINION
Having bounced back to winning ways against Brighton following three successive defeats, Tottenham face Premier League rivals Watford in a League Cup third round clash in midweek.
The cup competition is hardly going to be of much priority to Mauricio Pochettino, having previously spoken about his disinterest in succeeding when the likes of the Premier League and Champions League are at stake, and as such is likely to rest some big names and hand some fringe figures the chance to star.
It seems as though managerial counterpart Javi Gracia might well be going through the same thought process, with the London Evening Standard reporting the crucial bit of early team news that striker and captain Troy Deeney, arguably the Hornets’ most important and influential player, is set to sit out of the clash at the Stadium MK – the temporary replacement for Spurs’ as-yet completed new stadium and the occupied Wembley.
With Watford clearly following in Spurs’ footsteps by not giving priority to the competition, Pochettino must spring a shock with his own line up decisions and keep Harry Kane leading the line despite his critics this season.
Having been accused of being tired and out of form, many would have seen this clash as the ideal opportunity to rest the 6’1″ (source: Transfermarkt) superstar for more important matches, but with one relatively big name striker seemingly out, it gives perhaps the biggest name in English, and one of the biggest in world football, the chance to shine.
Deeney is a massive handful thanks to his brute force and whoever fills his boots will struggle to replicate his displays, meaning the Spurs defence should face an easier task.
With the back line under less pressure, Tottenham can be expected to push forward and be a constant threat to the Hornets, and while Fernando Llorente is a decent forward, no one is as ruthless as Kane up top – when he is in fine form, of course.
With things not going his way, taking on a weakened Watford side seems like the ideal opportunity to get his confidence up and him back striking fear into the hearts of defenders, and it is for that reason Pochettino must spring the shock of Kane in the starting XI.