Sources: Pochettino plots major changes to Spurs XI, 4 fringe/unseen players to be key men

Sources: Pochettino plots major changes to Spurs XI, 4 fringe/unseen players to be key men

Wayne Veysey

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

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Mauricio Pochettino is planning to make drastic changes to the Tottenham team after the international break, Football Insider understands.

The manager is ready to axe under-performing stars and hand extended chances to players who have been on the fringes this season.

A Tottenham source has told Football Insider that Pochettino knows he needs to radically re-shape the starting XI to arrest the team's rapid decline.

He is planning to build the defence around Davinson Sanchez, Juan Foyth and summer signing Ryan Sessegnon, who has yet to play for Spurs due to injury.

Giovani Lo Celso is also set for a major role when he returns to fitness after making just three substitute appearances following his arrival on a loan-to-buy deal at the end of the summer window.

Regular starters Christian Eriksen, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Danny Rose are set for the axe when Pochettino is able to call upon his new players.

Foyth, Sessegnon and Lo Celso will all bring a freshness to the side, while Sanchez has not had a minute of league action since the 2-2 draw against Arsenal on 1 September.

The manager knows he needs to make significant alterations to a side that is on a wretched run that threatens to leave their season in tatters.

Tottenham are ninth in the Premier League table and 13 points adrift of leaders Liverpool, facing a major battle to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage after their 7-2 mauling by Bayern Munich and were eliminated from the League Cup by third-tier Colchester United.

Pochettino has largely stuck with the same players who have been mainstays of the team he has taken to new heights since his 2014 arrival.

But he wants some fresh faces to bring new energy and impetus to his faltering side.

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