Tottenham signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur available for debuts but won’t start Brighton tie

New Tottenham signings Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur are available to make their respective debuts in the FA Cup tie against Brighton this weekend.

However, manager Antonio Conte has insisted it is too soon for the duo - who both officially signed for Spurs from Juventus on deadline day - to start Saturday evening’s all-Premier League fourth-round clash in north London.

Swedish winger Kulusevski was able to begin training at Hotspur Way on Thursday after being granted a work permit, while Bentancur’s arrival was later due to his involvement in Uruguay’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Tuesday night.

“Kulusevski and Bentancur are fit and for this reason they are available (tomorrow) for sure,” Conte said at his pre-Brighton press conference on Friday.

“To start the game is not right because they need to work with the team for a period. These two players can help us a lot.”

More to follow

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