The defense of Tottenham Hotspur, which plays Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday at Molineux, is severely injured. This will present a challenge for manager Ange Postecoglou.

The 4-1 loss to Chelsea on Monday marked the Australian’s first Premier League setback. Both Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were sent off the pitch either side of halftime.

Romero’s straight red means that the Argentine will miss three games, including matches against Aston Villa and champions Manchester City after the international break. Udogie, on the other hand, will just have to serve a one-game suspension.

Additionally, during Monday’s first-half injury time, Micky van de Ven (thigh) and James Maddison (ankle) were taken off, joining Ben Davies (ankle), Manor Solomon (knee), Ivan Perisic (knee), Ryan Sessegnon (thigh), and Alfie Whiteman (ankle) in the infirmary.

Eric Dier is the only senior central option available to Spurs for the trip to Molineux after Postecoglou accepted that Van de Ven’s injury appeared to be serious. As a result, Dier, an Englishman, will start in the Premier League for the first time this season with Guglielmo Vicario and Pedro Porro.

A lot will depend on Davies’s health in relation to Postecoglou’s other defensive options. The Welshman would replace Udogie on the left, freeing Emerson Royal to play as a backup center back.

Despite Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being used in the center of defense for the second half of Monday’s game, Davies would presumably be replaced by Emerson out wide in place of Udogie, which would force Postecoglou to take a punt on Ashley Phillips, 18, along with Dier.

Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma’s midfield combo will not be affected by Spurs’ abundance of absences, and it is hoped that Maddison will be well enough to play on Saturday despite his ankle injury.

Ryan Johnson should continue to play alongside Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min in attack because Richarlison, who was benched against Chelsea, has also stated that he will have surgery shortly to cure a pelvic issue.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup: Vicario; Porro, Dier, Phillips, Royal; Sarr, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son