View: 82% star to return in four Tudor changes - Tottenham predicted XI vs Atletico Madrid

Xavi Simons could return to the starting line-up for Tottenham Hotspur‘s Champions League round-of-16 visit to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Although Tottenham’s Premier League form has been frankly abysmal, their exploits in Europe have been fairly impressive.

Spurs finished fourth in the league phase, and it was their results in the Champions League that kept Thomas Frank in a job for so long.

With Igor Tudor now at the helm, he goes into the first leg having lost all three of his games in charge, and fans are becoming incredibly doubtful of his abilities as a head coach.

When Tottenham meet Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Tudor might make four changes to the team that lost 3-1 to Crystal Palace last Thursday, with Simons being the biggest beneficiary.

Xavi Simons replaces Mathys Tel in four changes

Simons has endured a slow start to life in N17, and it’s clear that he hasn’t adapted to the physical nature of the Premier League.

However, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has an abundance of potential, and he can definitely grow into a top-class player for Spurs.

According to Sofascore, he has a pass accuracy of 82.4 per cent in the top flight, and his creativity has definitely been missed when he hasn’t started under Tudor.

Therefore, with Spurs in need of some individual brilliance, Simons could come in for Mathys Tel, who hasn’t gotten going this season.

Cristian Romero will also come back into the side after his latest suspension, which means the whole of the defence will have to reshuffle.

Pedro Porro could move up to right wing-back, with the versatile Archie Gray playing on the opposite side to replace Souza in the team.

Joao Palhinha and Pape Matar Sarr were woeful against Crystal Palace, and as a result, both Conor Gallagher and Yves Bissouma could be named in the side.

Tudor has come under a lot of criticism for playing players out of position, but that unfortunately looks set to continue with Gray.

Can Archie Gray flourish as a left wing-back?

Tudor can definitely get more out of Gray by using him in midfield, but the teenager has a knack for delivering brilliant performances.

The 19-year-old was absolutely phenomenal against Crystal Palace, and he was the only player who was allowed to leave the pitch with his head held high.

He played as a right wing-back, drifting inside to utilise his skills as a midfielder, and set up Dominic Solanke’s opening goal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Realistically, Gray isn’t accustomed to playing on the other flank, but given the fact that he’s right-footed, he might be able to find his teammates in the middle with ease.

At this point, there’s no doubting his ability, and it wouldn’t be a shock for him to produce a brilliant performance at a hostile ground.

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