Pochettino should give these 3 Tottenham players a chance in the FA Cup

Premier League title challengers Tottenham host League Two high-flyers Wycombe Wanderers in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs comfortably got past Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa 2-0 in the previous round, and have since then beaten West Brom and drawn with Manchester City in the Premier League to keep their excellent unbeaten run going.

Pochettino’s men are now unbeaten in their last eight games, dating back to a 1-0 loss at Manchester United on December 11, and in that time they have won all five of their home games, and only conceded once.

However, it won’t be easy against Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe, who themselves have been on a stunning unbeaten run in recent months.

The Chairboys last tasted defeat in an EFL trophy clash with Oxford United back in November, and since then have won 12 and drawn four of their 16 games in all competitions.

Ainsworth’s side narrowly got past non-league Stourbridge in round three, but will go to White Hart Lane with nothing to lose against the heavy favourites and eight-times FA Cup winners Tottenham.

Yet, with a Premier League clash away at Sunderland to come in midweek, Pochettino may shuffle his pack against Wycombe, so here are THREE Tottenham players who deserve a chance in the FA Cup on Saturday…

Cameron Carter-Vickers

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

With Jan Vertonghen out injured for a while and a Premier League game at Sunderland to come on Tuesday, Pochettino will likely make changes to his defence for the visit of Wycombe.

Thus, 19-year-old defender Cameron Carter-Vickers could make his fourth start of the campaign.

The American Under-23 international made his Spurs debut earlier this season in the 5-0 win over Gillingham in the League Cup, before then playing the full 90 minutes in their defeat at Liverpool in the same competition.

He had to wait for his next chance, but it came in the third round of the FA Cup at home to Aston Villa, with Carter-Vickers part of the Spurs backline that kept a clean sheet in the 2-0 win.

His performance that day against Steve Bruce’s men suggests that he deserve another chance against Wycombe on Saturday.

Harry Winks

Photo: Mark Leech

Pochettino will likely give his younger players a chance to shine on Saturday, so expect midfielder Harry Winks to get an opportunity in the middle of the park.

The 20-year-old has been on the peripheries of the first team for much of the season, making two Premier League starts as well as 13 other substitute appearances for the club.

Add in two League Cup starts and one in the FA Cup against Villa, and Winks is clearly an important member of the squad at White Hart Lane, so if Pochettino is looking to rest the likes of Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele, Winks will surely get the chance against Gareth Ainsworth’s men on Saturday.

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou

Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

French winger Georges-Kevin N’Koudou has made just one start since an £11 million move from Marseille in the summer, yet could be set to double that tally on Saturday.

The 21-year-old forced his way into Pochettino’s starting line-up in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in the League Cup back in October, yet has since had to make-do with six substitute appearances in the Champions League, Premier League, and FA Cup.

However, N’Koudou grabbed an assist in his 20 minute substitute cameo in the win over Villa in the previous round, and that may have been enough to convince Pochettino of his capabilities to start against Wycombe.

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