Spurs Youngsters Can Get Point At PAOK Salonika

A year ago Tottenham were beginning their amazing Champions League campaign which ended in the quarter final against Real Madrid. Twelve months on Spurs are back in the Europa League and manager Harry Redknapp has described it as a nuisance which means he will give his younger players an opportunity to develop and impress in this competition leaving his first team fresh for their Premiership campaign.

 

Carlo Cudicini is likely to start in goal with Brad Freidal not included in the Europa League squad and the out of favour Gomes unlikely to get a look in. William Gallas, Michael Dawson, Vedran Corluka, Steven Pienaar, Rafael van der Vaart and Aaron Lennon are all unavailable, this week Rafa Van Der Vaart expressed his displeasure at being ommitted from the Europa League squad. In place of the more experienced players expect to see the likes of Andros Townsend, Tom Carroll, Jake Livermore, Harry Kane and Giovani Dos Santos whilst Roman Pavlyuchenko could also get some game time.

 

PAOK don't come into this match in great form, they gave up a lead against Ergotelis at the weekend, conceding two goals in the last five minutes of the game. Greece is not an easy place for players to go though, especially ones as young as many of the Spurs team will be. so asking them to win the match is certainly asking a lot. However Spurs should have enough class to get something from the game so the draw appeals as the best bet in this opening game of the Europa League group stage.