Considering Hoffenheim are 16th in the Bundesliga and 27th in the Europa League, this marks an important opportunity for Tottenham to deliver some optimism in a season that has been memorably tough. Spurs may be 15th in the Premier League but they are in strong standing in all of the cup competitions – they are through to the FA Cup fourth round,

Tottenham and Hoffenheim each languish in 15th place in their respective domestic divisions. Can the Europa League provide some respite?

Four of the absentees, Antonin Kinsky, Djed Spence, Sergio Reguilon and Min-hyeok Yang, are fit but ineligible in Europe – partly a consequence of the club's squad mismanagement – but 10 are injured, with Pape Matar Sarr the latest to go down after taking a knock in Sunday's defeat to Everton.

Centre-back Cristian Romero was spotted with his teammates on the training pitches, going through the usual warm-up drills. Bar the game with Chelsea, when he lasted just 15 minutes, perhaps rushed back from a toe injury too soon, the Argentinian has been out of action since gameweek 12.