Tottenham predict Newcastle’s squad for test at St James’ Park
Tottenham Hotspur’s predictions for tonight’s game against Newcastle reflect a team looking for a rhythm rather than just refining details. Thomas Frank “may continue to shake up his squad tonight when Tottenham face Newcastle”, with recent results calling for further reshuffling. Tottenham are “without a win in four Premier League games” after defeating Fulham 2-1 at home at the weekend, which has made people pay more attention to the team’s formation and draft selection.
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System issues with Tottenham Hotspur selection
Frank experimented heavily against Fulham, opting for a “system without a left-winger” but the move “didn’t work”. The expectation at St James’ Park is therefore that of “a different formation and line-up”, acknowledging that Tottenham seek a balance between control and penetration, with trust in tactical continuity remaining elusive.
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There is at least one guaranteed change. “Cristian Romero will return from suspension” to strengthen the heart of the defense, while “Jed Spence is likely to replace Destiny Udoji at left-back,” a choice in line with Frank’s preference for athletic width in difficult away games.
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Midfield balance drives Spurs lineup
The midfield conundrum remains. Frank has “opted for a more ambitious midfield in the past few games, but that hasn’t delivered results”, which could prompt a return to the “first-choice partnership of Joao Palinha and Rodrigo Bentancur”, a pair seen to provide the positional discipline currently lacking.
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Offensive options remain inconsistent. “Xavi Simons didn’t start in three games last week and it will be a big ask to feature him away at Newcastle,” which opens the door to energy options such as Papu Matar Sarr, who can “add more energy and physicality to the midfield.”
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On the front line, “Randall Kolo Mouani was one of the few who took credit against Fulham and should keep his place if fit,” which was a rare positive attitude amid an uneven offensive performance.
On the left wing, structure may be restored, with “Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson the most likely options” and “the French seem to be ahead in the pecking order”.
Predicted XI for Tottenham Hotspur vs Newcastle
Predicted Tottenham Hotspur XI: Vicario, Polo, Romero, Van de Veen, Spence, Palinha, Bentancur, Kudus, Sarr, Odobert, Kolo Muani
Injuries: Bissouma, Maddison, Kulusevski, Solanke
Time and date: Tuesday 2 December 2025 at 8:15 pm (GMT)
Venue: St James’ Park Stadium
How to watch: Sky Sports
