Tottenham Hotspur Starting XI vs Aston Villa: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup

Tottenham vs Aston Villa : Pedro Porro and Sandro Tonali Return for Spurs

Tottenham need something tangible now. Better patterns, cleaner build-up and occasional spells of control mean very little when the table still says no wins, no league goals and only four games played. Add a Carabao Cup exit to Liverpool in midweek and the picture is simple, Spurs have started badly.

There is at least some decent news before Aston Villa arrive. Pedro Porro is fit again, Sandro Tonali is available and Destiny Udogie is ready to come back into the side. For Roberto De Zerbi, that matters. He has spent the opening weeks juggling fitness problems, limiting minutes and trying to avoid another injury spiral.

Tottenham were cautious with Porro and Udogie during the 0-0 draw with Everton . Both are expected to return on Saturday, which immediately gives the back line more balance and more thrust down the flanks. Udogie already showed sharpness in the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, even in a losing cause.

Tottenham injury update boosts key areas

Tonali's return may be the most important of the lot. The £100million midfielder missed the Anfield trip with a knock, but he is back in training and should be in the squad. Spurs have lacked authority in central areas, and his availability gives De Zerbi more control and more bite.

James Maddison is another case being handled carefully. He has yet to start a match this season, but the manager has indicated he could now get the nod. That would be timely because Tottenham's biggest problem has been obvious, they do not score enough and have created too little from good positions.

There are still absentees. Dejan Kulusevski has returned to first-team training, but will not feature yet as he builds match fitness after a long lay-off. Mykhailo Mudryk remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected back until after the international break. Wilson Odobert and Xavi Simons are also out.

Roberto De Zerbi needs momentum before break

The manager has already pointed to an unstructured pre-season and a squad still short physically. That rings true. Spurs have looked uneven, and the reshaped medical department has clearly preferred caution over risk. Given the injury damage of the past two seasons, that is understandable.

Aston Villa arrive with their own league problems, despite a 3-1 cup win over Coventry in midweek. This is a real chance for Tottenham to change the mood before the three-week break. Another blank, another stumble, and the noise gets louder.

Kinsky ; Porro, Van Hecke , Van de Ven , Udogie; Bentancur , Gallagher; Savio, Fernandes, Marmoush ; Solanke .

Kick-off is 12:30pm BST on Saturday, September 19 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.