Tottenham's Premier League Season Opener at Brentford

Tottenham will kick off their Premier League season at Brentford with a squad that looks new in places but is already stretched.

New captain Micky van de Ven will not feature. The defender, handed the armband for the new campaign, missed the entire pre-season after returning late from World Cup duty and has not played a minute under Roberto De Zerbi this summer. The head coach confirmed on Friday that van de Ven will not even make the squad for the trip across London.

Vice-captain Pedro Porro is also out. De Zerbi ruled the right-back unavailable, stripping Spurs of both their designated leaders before a ball has been kicked in the league.

The problems do not stop there. Pape Matar Sarr has picked up a hamstring injury that will sideline him this weekend. The issue is not considered serious, but it is enough to deprive Spurs of one of their key midfielders for the opener.

There is at least a flicker of good news. Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Dominic Solanke and Mateus Fernandes all trained ahead of the Brentford clash. De Zerbi said they would be “inside”, a clear hint that all four are in line to be involved in the matchday squad if they come through the final checks.

Fernandes, the marquee £85m summer signing from West Ham, will have to wait a little longer for his full launch. The forward has been managing a calf problem since Spurs’ pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia and does not start, with De Zerbi choosing caution over risk on day one.

That caution is no accident. After last season’s injury crisis ripped through the campaign, De Zerbi has taken a hard line with any fitness doubts. On the opening weekend, Tottenham will discover whether that conservative approach pays off or leaves them short in the heat of a Premier League battle.