Tottenham to be without key duo for Rochdale clash at Wembley

Tottenham Hotspur will again be without first-choice centre-backs Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen for Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round replay against Rochdale.

Alderweireld and Vertonghen both missed Tottenham’s 1-0 win at Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but it had been thought that the pair would return for the FA Cup clash at Wembley.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino ruled the pair out of action at his pre-match press conference, however, with a hamstring problem keeping Alderweireld on the sidelines, and an ankle injury still troubling Vertonghen.

Vertonghen has been a constant in the Spurs defence this season, but Alderweireld has only made two FA Cup appearances since injuring his hamstring in November.

The future of the Belgium international continues to be called into question, meanwhile, as his contract saga with Tottenham shows no sign of ending.

Young Argentine defender Juan Foyth is expected to be given the chance to start against Rochdale, and Davinson Sanchez – who has kept Alderweireld out in recent weeks – has been tipped to also feature at the heart of the back four.

Next up for Tottenham in the Premier League is a home game against Huddersfield Town on Saturday afternoon.

from FootballFanCast.com http://ift.tt/2HOXWpA