Maidstone chase history against Stevenage, Jack Clarke set for Tyne-Wear duel and Armando Broja spots chance
Ange Postecoglou did not want to say who would captain Tottenham in Friday night’s tie against Burnley. The usual choice, Son Heung-min, is away on Asian Cup duty while the vice-captains, Cristian Romero and James Maddison, are injured. Yet to Postecoglou, it will not be “really that significant” because the pecking order is established and the stopgap will be exactly that. It was striking to hear how gutted the manager was over Son’s absence – within the context of wishing him well with South Korea. Postecoglou lavished praise on a “generational” talent and “outstanding leader,” adding: “If you name a team of the year at the moment, he’s in it.” Son, he said, would be a “significant absence … a big loss.” Ben Davies is the most senior candidate to step in but, as Postecoglou stressed, every player must step up. David Hytner
Tottenham v Burnley, Friday 8pm (all times GMT)
Maidstone v Stevenage, Saturday 12.30pm
Sunderland v Newcastle, Saturday 12.45pm
Watford v Chesterfield, Saturday 3pm
Gillingham v Sheffield United, Saturday 3pm
Chelsea v Preston, Saturday 5.30pm
Continue reading…Maidstone chase history against Stevenage, Jack Clarke set for Tyne-Wear duel and Armando Broja spots chanceAnge Postecoglou did not want to say who would captain Tottenham in Friday night’s tie against Burnley. The usual choice, Son Heung-min, is away on Asian Cup duty while the vice-captains, Cristian Romero and James Maddison, are injured. Yet to Postecoglou, it will not be “really that significant” because the pecking order is established and the stopgap will be exactly that. It was striking to hear how gutted the manager was over Son’s absence – within the context of wishing him well with South Korea. Postecoglou lavished praise on a “generational” talent and “outstanding leader,” adding: “If you name a team of the year at the moment, he’s in it.” Son, he said, would be a “significant absence … a big loss.” Ben Davies is the most senior candidate to step in but, as Postecoglou stressed, every player must step up. David HytnerTottenham v Burnley, Friday 8pm (all times GMT)Maidstone v Stevenage, Saturday 12.30pmSunderland v Newcastle, Saturday 12.45pmWatford v Chesterfield, Saturday 3pmGillingham v Sheffield United, Saturday 3pmChelsea v Preston, Saturday 5.30pm Continue reading…
