Fixture Focus–Spurs (Europa Cup, 28 Feb 2014)

Tottenham Hotspur v Dnipro

Dnipro at home on Thursday night and a much bigger game for Tim Sherwood than he would’ve wished to be the case this time last week.

Injuries mean that the back four picks itself. Dnipro’s speed on the break means that Brad, presumably, is unlikely to be in for a quiet night. Konoplyanka is the man to watch so whoever plays at right back is in for an interesting evening. Naughton has said he wants to play first team right back and tonight he should show whether he can hang with the best.

This is our only chance of silverware this season and it remains to be seen whether Sherwood feels it is worth competing on the cup front as well as challenging for the lucrative Champions League spots. We have the squad to do both but the question remains, do we have the tactics to make it so. Will Soldado show that he is the striker worth every penny of his transfer fee? The gaffer has spoken to him and let’s hope “the soldier” feels fired up for tonight now that Defoe is off to Canada.