Tottenham travel to San Siro for the first leg of a Champions League last-16 tie against Milan on Tuesday night without a number of key figures.
Both clubs have endured underwhelming seasons undermined by inconsistency. Milan may have prepared for the midweek clash with three points against Torino but it was the Rossoneri's first victory after seven winless outings.
Spurs imploded at Leicester's King Power Stadium on Saturday, shipping four goals for the second time in five games. Antonio Conte's Internazionale never conceded more than three goals in a single game during his two years at the helm of Milan's great rivals.
Here are the personnel issues Conte faces on his return to San Siro.
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Tottenham suspension news
Only Harry Kane (31) has made more starts for Tottenham across all competitions this season than Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (29). However, the Dane won't add to that tally this Tuesday as he serves a one-match suspension after accumulating three yellow cards in the Champions League group stage.
Eric Dier, Clement Lenglet and Rodrigo Bentancur are one caution away from missing the second leg (although the latter has more immediate concerns).
Cristian Romero was notable for his absence against Leicester City as the Foxes mercilessly made a beeline for the right-hand side of Tottenham's rearguard. Romero was serving a Premier League suspension after his red card against Manchester City and will be available for the trip to Milan. On his last appearance at San Siro against Milan, the World Cup winner got a goal and an assist as Atalanta ran out 3-0 winners in 2021.
Tottenham injury news
- Hugo Lloris suffers significant injury in blow to Tottenham's season
- Yves Bissouma set for two months out with stress fracture
On the weekend, Bentancur became the latest visitor to Tottenham's increasingly crowded treatment room. The Uruguayan midfielder required oxygen as a stretcher was brought onto the pitch after he crumpled to the turf against Leicester. Bentancur managed to limp off but the likelihood of a return as soon as Tuesday is slim.
Hugo Lloris has little to no chance of featuring in either leg of Tottenham's European tie after damaging his knee ligaments. The Spurs captain of eight years could be sidelined for as many as eight weeks, leaving the gloves for Fraser Forster to fill.
Yves Bissouma has been put on a similar recovery trajectory while he nurses an injured ankle. Bissouma underwent surgery on his stress fracture on the Friday before Tottenham travel to Lombardy.
Without any of Bentancur, Hojbjerg or Bissouma, there are few alternatives to Tottenham's midfield aside from an inexperience double pivot of Oliver Skipp and Pape Matar Sarr.
Ryan Sessegnon is a doubt with a hamstring injury, limiting Conte's options at left-wingback to the former Inter wide man Ivan Perisic.
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Source : 90min