Tottenham Hotspur vs Stoke City: Pochettino without three key defensive stars for Potters' visit

Tottenham Hotspur will be without defenders Davinson Sanchez, Toby Alderweireld and midfielder Victor Wanyama for the visit of Stoke City on Saturday (9 December) but have no fresh fitness concerns ahead of the clash with Potters.

Sanchez, who up until the last couple of weeks had enjoyed an immaculate start to life in the English capital, will play not part against Mark Hughes' side at Wembley after picking up a red card during Spurs' 1-1 draw with high-flying Watford last weekend.

Sanchez's unavailability is compounded by the continued absences of Alderweireld and Wanyama, who are still striving to recover from their respective hamstring and knee injuries. Alderweireld sustained his injury during Tottenham's memorable win over Real Madrid last month, while his former Southampton teammate Wanyama has not featured since the middle of August after suffering a serious knee injury, though the Kenya international has made good progress in his rehabilitation in recent weeks.

On the subject of Alderweireld's injury, Pochettino said in his press conference: "He's doing well. Someone misinterpreted him. He said if it was worse the injury then with surgery I would maybe spend 14 more weeks. He needs nothing more than only working hard now and getting treatment. He's on time, he's doing well. We don't need to be worried. He avoided the injury that would keep him out for a long time."

The loss of Sanchez coupled with Alderweireld's absence will force Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino into a defensive reshuffle against Stoke, who have endured a number of drubbings at the hands of Spurs in recent seasons.

Eric Dier will certainly be asked to partner up with Jan Vertonghen, but it remains to be seen if Pochettino, currently looking for a tonic to cure his side's poor recent league form, will put faith in young centre-back Juan Foyth or change his system to a four-man defence.

The former Estudiantes starlet has seen little game-time so far this season but did help Tottenham keep a clean sheet as they rounded off their fruitful Champions League campaign with a win against Apoel Nicosia in midweek. Pochettino is not worried by his side's defensive options and may even see fit to put Serge Aurier in the heart of his backline which is set to include Danny Rose, who managed to take part in training after having stitches on a cut suffered against Apoel Nicosia.

"We finished at Watford with Eric Dier and Jan Vertonghen and then we have Juan Foyth," Pochettino said. "We have different options. Ben Davies can play like a centre-back. Aurier can play like a centre-back. He played there for PSG. We have plenty of different options to use. I am not concerned."

Foyth has not been afforded a minute of Premier League action by Pochettino, who will have to rejig his midfield due to the suspension of Sanchez and lack of Wanyama. With Dier set to retreat to the defence, Harry Winks or Moussa Sissoko will be tasked with commanding the midfield against Stoke, who have a number of personnel concerns themselves.

Potters defender Bruno Martins Indl will miss the trip to the Wembley and perhaps the next two months with a nasty groin problem, while winger Jese Rodriguez will play no part after travelling back to Gran Canaria to tend to his ill son.