Jose Mourinho has confirmed Christian Eriksen will be available for Tottenham’s FA Cup third round replay against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, but Toby Alderweireld will be rested.
After Saturday’s defeat to Liverpool, in which Eriksen disappointed, there were suggestions (via a video captured by @RachelVMartin) the Dane waved goodbye to the fans as he left the pitch. We gave Eriksen a two out of 10 in our player ratings.
But despite his apparent disinterest amid talk of an imminent transfer to Inter Milan, Eriksen will play a part against Middlesbrough.
“He plays tomorrow,” Mourinho said (via Football London). “After that I have a match on Saturday and maybe he plays Saturday again. I cannot tell you much more than that. We are in our limits, we have very, very important injuries and every player that we have is a player that has to be ready to help the team. We are not in conditions to think anything different than that.”
Mourinho went on to reveal the only player who will be rested against Middlesbrough is Alderweireld. The Spurs boss suggested he has enough options at centre-back – including Japhet Tanganga and Juan Foyth – to give the Belgian a rest.
“I can tell you the only player who is not selected is Alderweireld,” he said. “He is the only one I can give a rest because I have options behind. I can play with Vertonghen, Tanganga, Foyth, Sanchez. So he’s the only player that I can say ‘goodbye, take two days off’. Apart from that we are in our limits and everybody else has to go.”
With the above quotes in mind, Tanganga could be handed another start after impressing on his Premier League debut against Liverpool. Jan Vertonghen is also likely to play a part unless Mourinho wants to give Foyth another chance to prove himself.
Tanganga played very well and should be installed in first team. It is the most logical decision for Mourinho. Mourinho is starting well despite the lapse against LFC , after all he came in when Spurs were 12th and you are now 9th – now that is , in anyone’s book , a movement forward.
p.s I am a Liverpool fan but there is something about Jose that is , for football , very likeable – glad he is back !
Erikson should not be selected to play. Spurs should give Foyth one more chance Make sure Japten Tanganga will play
One more plea please buy new striker this week