Tottenham vs Aston Villa: Porro, Tonali and Udogie all return for Spurs

Tottenham face Aston Villa at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, September 19 at 12:30pm BST, with Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali and Destiny Udogie all returning to the squad. Spurs are still without a win, a league goal, or a point from four games and need a result before the international break.

  • Fixture: Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa, Premier League
  • Kick-off: 12:30pm BST, Saturday, September 19
  • Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
  • Key returns: Pedro Porro, Sandro Tonali, Destiny Udogie
  • Still out: Mykhailo Mudryk, Wilson Odobert, Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski (not ready)
  • At stake: Tottenham have no wins, no league goals and four games played; a loss increases the pressure before the three-week break.

Confirmed line-ups

No confirmed starting XI has been released by either club. The only line-up detail in the source is a predicted Tottenham XI.

Tottenham Hotspur (predicted, 4-2-3-1)

Starting XI: Kinsky; Porro, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Gallagher; Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush; Solanke.

Selection notes

Pedro Porro is fit again and expected to start at right-back after being handled cautiously in the 0-0 draw with Everton. Destiny Udogie is ready to come back into the side and will give Spurs more balance and thrust down the left.

Sandro Tonali missed the Anfield trip with a knock but is back in training and should be in the squad. His return gives Roberto De Zerbi more control and bite in central areas.

James Maddison has yet to start a match this season but could get the nod, with Tottenham having created too little from good positions.

Dejan Kulusevski has returned to first-team training but will not feature yet as he builds match fitness after a long lay-off. Mykhailo Mudryk remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected back until after the international break. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are also out.

Injury and availability

  • Pedro Porro: fit again, expected to return.
  • Destiny Udogie: ready to come back into the side.
  • Sandro Tonali: available, back in training and should be in the squad.
  • James Maddison: handled carefully, could get the nod.
  • Dejan Kulusevski: back in first-team training but will not feature yet.
  • Mykhailo Mudryk: sidelined with an ankle injury, out until after the international break.
  • Wilson Odobert: out.
  • Xavi Simons: out.

Why Tonali and Udogie change Tottenham's shape

Roberto De Zerbi has spent the opening weeks juggling fitness problems, limiting minutes and trying to avoid another injury spiral. The return of Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie immediately gives the back line more balance and more thrust down the flanks. Udogie already showed sharpness in the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, even in a losing cause.

Sandro Tonali may be the most important return of the lot. Spurs have lacked authority in central areas, and his availability gives De Zerbi more control and more bite. The predicted midfield of Bentancur and Tonali would be far more solid than what Spurs have fielded recently.

Tottenham’s biggest problem has been obvious: they do not score enough and have created too little from good positions. James Maddison could be the answer if given his first start, while the predicted front four of Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush and Solanke needs to turn possession into chances. Aston Villa arrive with their own league problems, despite a 3-1 cup win over Coventry in midweek.

The numbers

  • 4 — Premier League games played by Tottenham this season.
  • 0 — wins and league goals for Tottenham so far.
  • 0-0 — Tottenham’s draw with Everton.
  • 3-1 — Tottenham’s midweek Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool.
  • 3-1 — Aston Villa’s midweek Carabao Cup win over Coventry.
  • £100million — the sum spent on Sandro Tonali, who missed the Anfield trip with a knock.

Talking points

  • Should De Zerbi throw Maddison straight in, or protect him given Tottenham’s cautious approach to fitness?
  • Does Tonali’s £100million price tag make him undroppable, or does his knock mean he should be managed carefully?
  • Aston Villa have their own league problems — a cup win in midweek does not hide that. This is Spurs’ best chance to change the mood.
  • Is the reshaped medical department’s caution over risk actually costing Spurs points on the pitch?

What happens next

Kick-off is 12:30pm BST on Saturday, September 19 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A win would lift the mood before the three-week international break; another blank or stumble and the noise around De Zerbi gets louder. Villa are also aiming to fix their league form after cup progress.

Frequently asked questions

Is Pedro Porro starting for Tottenham vs Aston Villa?

Porro is fit again and expected to return to the side on Saturday after being handled cautiously during the 0-0 draw with Everton.

Is Sandro Tonali available for Tottenham vs Aston Villa?

Yes. Tonali missed the Anfield trip with a knock, but he is back in training and should be in the squad.

What time is Tottenham vs Aston Villa kick-off?

Kick-off is 12:30pm BST on Saturday, September 19 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Filed under: Predicted Lineups | LA Premier League Home