Predicted Tottenham Starting XI To Face Benfica – Rose To Start

Tottenham Hotspur entertain Benfica at White Hart Lane this evening in the first leg of their Europa League last 16 clash, here’s our predicted team.

Tim Sherwood confirmed on Wednesday that Danny Rose is back in contention after returning to training following a knee injury that’s kept him out for almost a month. The defender should come straight back in to start at left-back with Jan Vertonghen moving back into the middle of defence.

With Michael Dawson set for a spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury during last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Chelsea, Younes Kaboul is likely to keep his place in the starting eleven while Kyle Walker should drop back to right-back after playing a little further forward on Sunday.

Christian Eriksen is also close to full fitness but he may have to make do with a place among the subs with Gylfi Sigurdsson starting, while Andros Townsend could be given a chance to impress on the right wing.

It will be interesting to see whether Sherwood goes with two up and recalls Roberto Soldado or sticks with a five-man midfield. We think Paulinho will be the one to play just off Emmanuel Adebayor with Sandro and Nabil Bentaleb in the holding roles with Mousa Dembele still a doubt.

Here’s the team we think Sherwood will go with:

What do you think of our team? What line-up would you go with for the game? Share your views below.