Tottenham XI vs Newcastle: Austin starts - starting lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest today

Tottenham hand a competitive debut to third-choice goalkeeper Brandon Austin against Newcastle today after a sickness bug compounded their ongoing injury crisis.

Austin, 26, has been at Spurs for nine years but has never made a first-team appearance, yet is needed today with No2 ‘keeper Fraser Forster ill and first-choice Guglielmo Vicario still sidelined.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW TOTTENHAM VS NEWCASTLE LIVE!

His last competitive outing came for loan club Orlando City in Major League Soccer (MLS) back in 2021. Alfie Whiteman is the back-up goalie this afternoon.

Destiny Udogie will miss the first game of 2025 as he begins a lay-off of around six weeks with the hamstring strain picked up against Wolves last weekend, with Djed Spence set to deputise at left-back after a suspension.

Vicario (foot), Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven (both hamstring) and Cristian Romero (quad) remain sidelined, so the rest of Ange Postecoglou's back five effectively picks itself with Archie Gray and Radu Dragusin fit to start.

With Rodrigo Bentancur banned again, Lucas Bergvall is preferred to Yves Bissouma in midfield, with James Maddison only on the bench as Pape Matar Sarr lines up alongside stand-in captain Dejan Kulusevski.

Usual skipper Heung-min Son is also only a substitute, so Timo Werner joins the attack along with Dominic Solanke and Brennan Johnson.

Richarlison (hamstring) and Mikey Moore (illness) are expected to return to the squad next week, while Wilson Odobert (hamstring) is a longer-term injury.

New signing Yang Min-hyeok is available after officially joining the club on January 1, although Postecoglou has said Spurs will give the 18-year-old time to adjust to English football.

Tottenham XI: Austin, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Bergvall, Sarr, Kulusevski, Johnson, Solanke, Werner

Subs: Whiteman, Reguilon, Dorrington, Hardy, Bissouma, Maddison, Olusesi, Son, Lankshear

Injured: Udogie, Vicario, Davies, Van de Ven, Romero, Richarlison, Moore, Odobert

Ill: Forster

Suspended: Bentancur

Time and date: 12.30pm GMT on Saturday January 4, 2025

Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

TV channel and live stream: TNT Sports