Tottenham drop squad hint for Ferencvaros as academy duo spotted boarding plane

Tottenham Hotspur’s Europa League squad for the match against Ferencvaros on Thursday may include some promising academy players. As the team departed for Budapest on Wednesday morning, young defenders Alfie Dorrington and Dante Cassanova were spotted boarding the plane alongside the first-team regulars.

Manager Ange Postecoglou is expected to make several changes to the lineup, similar to last week’s opener against Qarabag. However, with the squad thin in certain areas, he faces some difficult selection decisions.

UEFA rules allow clubs to name a separate B list for European competitions, which can be submitted up until midnight before a match. This list can include club-trained players born on or after January 1, 2003, who have been with the team for at least two uninterrupted years. For the Qarabag game, Tottenham included Luca Gunter, Tyrese Hall, Mikey Moore, and Will Lankshear on their B list, with only Moore and Lankshear making the matchday squad.

Dorrington and Cassanova are likely to be added to the B list for the Ferencvaros match, with official confirmation expected on UEFA’s website Thursday morning. Dorrington provides defensive cover in the absence of Radu Dragusin, who is suspended after receiving a red card in the previous Europa League fixture. Cassanova, who has started six games for Spurs’ Under-21s this season, offers versatility with experience at center-back, right-back, and in midfield.

Other players seen boarding the plane included James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven, Lucas Bergvall, Dominic Solanke, Lankshear, and Moore. Interestingly, Sergio Reguilon was also present despite not being part of Tottenham’s European squad and thus ineligible to play.

Notable absentees from the footage were Son Heung-min and Destiny Udogie, although it’s worth noting that not every player boarding may have been captured on video. Postecoglou is scheduled to provide injury updates during his press conference in Budapest at 4:15 PM on Wednesday.

The inclusion of academy players in the traveling squad highlights Tottenham’s commitment to developing young talent and provides an opportunity for these prospects to gain valuable experience in a high-pressure European environment. It also demonstrates Postecoglou’s willingness to integrate youth into the first-team setup when necessary.

As Spurs aim to build on their victory against Qarabag, the potential involvement of Dorrington and Cassanova adds an intriguing element to the squad composition. Their presence not only offers additional options for Postecoglou but also serves as motivation for other academy players aspiring to break into the senior team.

The match against Ferencvaros presents another chance for Tottenham to assert themselves in the Europa League group stage and maintain momentum in their European campaign. With a mix of established stars and emerging talents, Spurs will look to secure a positive result in Hungary and strengthen their position in the competition.