Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham predicted lineups, starting 11, team news, injuries for Europa League clash: Austin to start

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Tottenham will seek to leave their Premier League malaise behind and take a huge step towards qualification for the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds when they travel to Hoffenheim on Thursday.

Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Everton left Ange Postecoglou's side languishing in 15th in England's top flight.

Their form in Europe has also fallen away. Spurs have taken two points from the past nine on offer, having won each of their first three games in the league phase. That slump leaves them just outside the top eight on goal difference, with only those teams progressing automatically to the Round of 16 and avoiding the playoff round.

That is the limit of Hoffenheim's ambitions. A tough season at home and abroad means Christian Ilzer's side match Spurs' 15th place in the Bundesliga and they're 26th in the Europa League table, needing points to edge their way into the playoff spots.

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Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham lineups, starting 11, team news

Adam Hlozek and Andrej Kramaric were in the goals at the weekend as a much-needed 3-1 win over Holstein Kiel moved Hoffenheim out of the bottom three.

Midfielder Anton Stach is back from a thigh problem but former Liverpool defender Ozan Kabak leads a list of absentees that also features Florian Grillitsch, Grischa Promel, Ihlas Bebou and Marius Bulter.

Hoffenheim predicted starting line-up (4-5-1, right to left): Baumann (GK) — Gendrey, Arthur Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass — Geiger, Stach — Kaderabek, Kramaric, Hlozek — Moerstedt

Baumann; Gendrey, Arthur Chaves, Akpoguma, Prass; Geiger, Stach; Kaderabek, Kramaric, Hlozek; Moerstedt

Injured: Kabak, Grillitsch, Promel, Bebou, Bulter.
Suspended: None

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Ben Davies' weekend return prompted Postecoglou's ill-fated switch to a back three at Everton. Expect the experienced Wales defender to feature in a more conventional back four against Hoffenheim, potentially allowing Archie Gray to move into midfield.

The main headache for Spurs comes in goal, where Brandon Austin is poised to make his second senior start on account of Antonin Kinsky not being registered for the Europa League and the continued absence of both Guglielmo Vicario and Fraser Forster.

Yves Bissouma, Brennan Johnson and Dominic Solanke were all ruled out at Everton. Solanke is set for a couple of weeks out with a knee complaint for the next few weeks, while Bissouma and Johnson feel unlikely to be risked.

Tottenham predicted starting lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Austin (GK) — Porro, Dragusin, Davies, Spence — Gray, Sarr, Bergvall — Kulusevski, Richarlison, Moore.

Injured: Vicario (ankle), Bentancur (concussion), Udogie (thigh), Romero (thigh), Van de Ven (thigh), Werner (hamstring), Odobert (thigh), Bissouma (doubt), Johnson (calf), Solanke (knee).

Suspended: None

Ineligible: Kinsky