Tottenham's New-Look Squad for Pre-Season Tour to New Zealand and Australia

Tottenham will take a new-look squad – and a couple of headline arrivals – on the long haul to New Zealand and Australia, with Jan Paul van Hecke and Andy Robertson among the 35 players named for the club’s pre-season tour.

Both defenders only reported back to Hotspur Way this week after extended breaks following the World Cup and sat out Wednesday’s 1-0 behind-closed-doors win over MK Dons. Their first action in a Spurs shirt is now set to come on the other side of the world.

New faces on the plane

Van Hecke and Robertson are the eye-catching additions in a group that blends established first-teamers, recent signings and a clutch of academy prospects. The tour will include friendlies against Auckland FC, Sydney FC and Chelsea, offering Ange Postecoglou a valuable early look at his reshaped back line.

They missed the MK Dons workout, where Mateus Fernandes stole the show. The midfielder smashed in a thunderous third-minute volley, the only goal of the game, while fellow new boy Sandro Tonali also featured. It was a glimpse of the new spine Tottenham are trying to build; the real auditions begin on tour.

Treatment room and extended breaks

Several big names will stay behind in north London. Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons, Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert remain at Hotspur Way to continue their rehabilitation as the medical staff manage their returns carefully.

Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has picked up a minor knock in training and will undergo treatment rather than travel. The club has not indicated any long-term concern, but his absence opens the door for others to stake a claim in goal.

World Cup exertions still shape the squad list. Rodrigo Bentancur and Pape Matar Sarr have been granted extra time off after their summer exploits, as have World Cup finalists Pedro Porro, Marcos Senesi and Cristian Romero. Djed Spence, who also went deep into the tournament, will not travel either.

Academy opportunity

With senior figures resting and others recovering, the tour offers a rare window for several highly rated youngsters. Luca Williams-Barnett, Tyler Tingey and Mikey Moore all make the cut and will board the flight with a genuine chance to impress.

They join a wider group of prospects, including Lucas Bergvall, Jamie Donley, Archie Gray, Tyrese Hall, Rio Kyerematen and Reiss Russell-Denny, in what looks like one of Tottenham’s most youth-heavy pre-season squads in years. For them, these weeks can change a career.

The travelling squad

Tottenham’s 35-man group for the New Zealand and Australia tour is:

• Goalkeepers: Brandon Austin, Martin Dubravka, Antonin Kinsky, Dylan Thompson
• Defenders: Kevin Danso, Ben Davies, Malachi Hardy, Andy Robertson, Kota Takai, Tyler Tingey, Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Jan Paul van Hecke
• Midfielders: Lucas Bergvall, Harry Byrne, Jamie Donley, Mateus Fernandes, Conor Gallagher, Archie Gray, Tye Hall, Tyrese Hall, Rio Kyerematen, James Maddison, Reiss Russell-Denny, Sandro Tonali, Luca Williams-Barnett, Yang Min-Hyeok

The stage is set a long way from north London. For the newcomers and the kids, it’s not just pre-season mileage. It’s their first real shot at forcing their way into Postecoglou’s plans before the serious business starts.