Tottenham boosted by quartet for trip to Ajax in the Champions League

Tottenham faces an uphill task in their Champions League second leg tie at Ajax.

Ajax are in the driving seat in the Champions League semi-final, and Tottenham must overturn a one-goal deficit. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are on a poor run of form, the Premier League side have lost five of their last six games in all competitions.

The return of Erik Lamela, Serge Aurier, Jan Vertonghen and Son Heung-Min has given Tottenham a boost for their Champions League trip to Ajax. Son returns from suspension, and the 26-year-old should have plenty in the tank after being sent off at Bournemouth on Saturday.

The Tottenham bench will keep a close eye on Vertonghen after the defender left the pitch in the first leg, because of concussion protocol. Pochettino believes Spurs are living the dream.

"We are living a dream. Five years ago [our priority] was to reduce the gap to the top four. Then qualify for the Champions League. Then to reach the last 16. And now we are in the semi-final. No-one expected us to play in the Champions League three times in a row or to still be involved at this stage – via uefa.com"

Ajax took control of the game in the first leg, it a situation Tottenham must avoid on Wednesday night. Mauricio Pochettino’s side has to score if they have any chances of progressing to the final in Madrid on June 01.

Former Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez will not face his former club, the Tottenham defender picked up an injury in the defeat to Bournemouth.

Donny van de Beek was sublime in the first game, playing behind Dusan Tadic. The Ajax No.6 was awarded the man-of-the-match and scored the only goal of the game. Breaking down Ajax will be a challenge for Tottenham. The Ajax central defensive pairing of Daley Blind and the influential Matthijs de Ligt will be key players for the hosts.

Ajax plays with bags of confidence. Erik ten Hag’s side plays with an extraordinary high line from set pieces. It is a tactic Tottenham may look to exploit this time around.

Expect another end-to-end game. Spurs can’t afford to sit back, but surging forward will give Ajax opportunities to hit them on the break. Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min will have to be at their best in the Tottenham attack. An early goal might give Tottenham a chance of prolonging their campaign beyond Sunday when Spurs host Everton in their final game of the Premier League season.