Dejan Kulusevski absence Man United Tottenham explained

Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski is missing from the squad due to illness, while Romero and Werner make their debut against Man United.

Dejan Kulusevski's absence from Tottenham's match against Manchester United due to illness is a significant setback for the team. The Sweden international has been a key player for Ange Postecoglou's squad this season, excelling in both wide and central positions. His absence, along with the unavailability of Son Heung-min and Giovani Lo Celso, poses a challenge for Tottenham.

In response to these absences, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has returned to the starting lineup, and new signing Timo Werner is set to make his debut. The return of defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, along with the inclusion of January arrival Radu Dragusin on the bench, provides much-needed depth in the defensive line.

Romero's return, despite previous doubts about his availability, is a welcome development for Postecoglou, who has been short on central defenders in recent months. With van de Ven also returning from injury, Tottenham now has three options in central defense.

Despite his absence from recent matches, van de Ven has been training with the team for several weeks, while Romero only recently returned to training. Their inclusion in the starting lineup reflects Postecoglou's confidence in their fitness and readiness to contribute.

The absence of Ben Davies due to injury may have influenced the decision to start Romero, and the midfield dynamic is likely to see Rodrigo Bentancur given the freedom to join the attack with Oliver Skipp and Hojbjerg providing defensive support. This lineup adjustment reflects Tottenham's adaptability in the face of key absences and the need for depth in the squad.

Overall, Tottenham's lineup for the match against Manchester United reflects the team's ability to adjust to unexpected absences and injuries, with new signings and returning players stepping up to fill crucial roles.