Tottenham have submitted their initial Europa League squad of just 23 players despite UEFA’s rules permitting clubs to name 25 stars in their opening squad across European competition.
Defenders Djed Spence and Sergio Reguilon were the most notable absentees from Ange Postecoglou’s submitted squad that bizarrely features four different goalkeepers.
Competing European clubs had until Wednesday to submit their List A teams for the cup competition, with Chelsea similarly not fulfilling the maximum amount of allowed players in the lower-tiered Conference League.
The list of Tottenham’s submitted players is only for the opening league phase of the competition, with teams able to make changes if they make it to the knockout stages.
Under UEFA rules, clubs must name a minimum of eight ‘locally-trained’ players in their squad, with the statement affecting stars in two separate categories.
Individuals who have been with a club for three complete seasons or 36 months between the ages of 15 and 21 are regarded as ‘cub-trained players’.
Similarly, ‘association-trained players’ class as those registered with another club in the same association such as England’s FA for three full seasons or 36 months within the same previous age bracket.
However, out of the the required eight locally-trained players named in squads, at least four of those must be club-trained which is the issue Spurs have encountered with their latest announcement.
The London club only named youngsters Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman in their initial Europa League team which is why they have 23-player squad as opposed to the 25 allowed.
Spence and Reguilon have therefore been left out of the team which leaves Spurs boss Postecoglou facing a potential defensive crisis if his side suffers any injuries.