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Both Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes start as Tottenham kick-start their pre-season preparations with a behind-closed-doors friendly against MK Dons this evening.
Spurs have been back in training at Hotspur Way for the last two weeks and will now play their first friendly as Roberto De Zerbi gets to see how his team is shaping up ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
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Tottenham have been busy in the summer transfer window, spending in excess of £200million on six new players, and both Fernandes and Tonali are in line to play some part against MK Dons.
Tonali may potentially see his minutes limited, though, as he joined pre-season training late due to work permit issues.
Fellow new signing Martin Dubravka has also been part of training but is on the bench, while those who were involved at the World Cup this summer have not yet joined up with the rest of the squad.
Scotland left-back Andy Robertson was, however, in attendance at Hotspur Way on Tuesday for his first day as Spurs player since signing on a free transfer from Liverpool. He is not in the matchday squad.
Pedro Porro, who started for Spain on Sunday as they beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time, Cristian Romero and Marcos Senesi will also take extended breaks following the World Cup final.
Djed Spence enjoyed an impressive World Cup as England finished third, and he too will be absent against MK Dons.
There are a number of players on the comeback trail following injury, with Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert still some way from returning from their respective anterior cruciate ligament issues despite being pictured at the training ground.
Mohammed Kudus has also been spotted at Hotspur Way, but he too is following a separate rehabilitation plan as he works his way back to fitness after a serious quad injury.
The same applies to Dejan Kulusevski, who did not play a single minute of football last season due to a troublesome knee injury.
Mikey Moore has been involved with the first-team squad and could get minutes against MK Dons as De Zerbi assesses him ahead of the new season.
Moore remains highly coveted after an impressive loan spell at Rangers.
De Zerbi has yet to decide whether Moore has a first-team future at Spurs and could use Wednesday’s game as an indicator of his suitability.
Academy player Jamie Donley has been involved with the first team and is said to have impressed De Zerbi in the last couple of weeks.
De Zerbi is likely to make plenty of changes against MK Dons so every player can get some minutes under their belt.
Heavy rotation is expected, but Standard Sport still had a go at predicting the starting lineup for Spurs’ first pre-season friendly.
Tottenham XI: Kinsky; Solomon, Davies, Takai, Gray, Kyerematen, Tonali, Fernandes, Gallagher, Tel, Solanke
Subs: Dubravka, Hardy, Byrne, Tye Hall, Donley, Moore, Yang, Williams-Barnett, Scarlett, Richarlison
Time and date: 5pm BST on Wednesday July 22, 2026
Venue: Hotspur Way (behind closed doors)
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