Ange Postecoglou could have to experiment yet again as Tottenham defender set to miss third game in a row

Due to a groin injury he sustained during practice prior to Tottenham’s match against Manchester City, defender Eric Dier has missed three of the team’s last four games.

Owing to his unavailability, Ange Postecoglou started Ben Davies and Emerson Royal in a central defensive role against Pep Guardiola’s team, which, given their lack of experience in that position, essentially backfired.

In the two games that followed, Davies and Cristian Romero were still in the starting lineup, with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie occupying the left and right backline spots, respectively. Dier’s return to the team is unlikely given his prolonged absence, so the experiment of starting the Welshman in the middle of the defense may go on.

Tottenham may be forced to retry their backline due to Eric Dier’s injury.

Postecoglou’s options at the back are further limited by the extended injury concerns that both Ashley Phillips and Micky van de Ven, the other center-back options, are facing.

The Standard reports that Dier won’t be back from his injury absence until the third week of December, just in time for the Everton match.

Up until that point, Tottenham might have to continue using ad hoc defensive pairings to test the squad’s adaptability and emphasize the importance of having depth in important positions. Ange needs to ask Daniel Levy for some as the January transfer window draws near.

In the absence of first-choice center backs, Ben Davies is stepping in as a makeshift center back.

Not only will Tottenham need to win these games to secure a winning record, but they also need to find a defensive lineup that can play well without Dier.

Fans will be watching Postecoglou closely as the team gets through this difficult time, and they’ll be curious to see if Davies’ experiment in central defense works as a long-term, dependable solution.