Tottenham will have to inform the Premier League early in March whether they expect their new stadium to open in time for the start of next season.

At the end of this month, the governing body will write to all 20 clubs to request their fixture plans for the 2018-19 campaign.

That will be the time for Spurs to decide whether to ask for any early-season League games to be played away from home, to give their 62,000-seat ground, located a stone’s throw from the old White Hart Lane, extra time to be completed.

The new season is due to start on August 11 and it is likely there will be three international matches before the start of September.

Tottenham’s official line remains that they expect to be in the new venue, a project costing more than £800million, on schedule. But the complex nature of the scheme means the club must have contingency plans, one of which is to consider rearranging fixtures.

Spurs know they have some wriggle room should they require it. This season, West Ham played their first three League fixtures away from home, as well as one Carabao Cup tie, due to the World Athletics Championships taking place at London Stadium.

In 2016, Liverpool were allowed to switch their August meeting with Burnley, scheduled for Anfield, to Turf Moor while work on their Centenary Stand was finished. And in 2010, newly-promoted Blackpool were given extra time to bring Bloomfield Road up to Premier League standards.

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So should Spurs ask for more breathing space, it seems likely they would receive a sympathetic ear.

There is no suggestion yet that building work will overrun significantly and the Premier League board have already been clear that a team must play all their home games in the competition at the same venue. But it is apparent that Spurs are working to a very tight timetable. The project entered a crucial phase earlier this month when builders slotted in the final piece of the compression ring, meaning the outer structure is now complete. That paved the way for the ‘roof lift’ stage to begin.

At a meeting with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust last May, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was asked how fans would know whether the stadium was on course to open on time. Minutes of the meeting read: “Daniel Levy said that the roof going on at the end of January/early February 2018 would be a big indicator.”

The minutes added: “Levy [said] contingency has been considered and there was the option to stay at Wembley for a second season, although it was hoped that wouldn’t be needed.” Standard Sport understands that at this stage, there have been no formal discussions between Tottenham and the FA about another year at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Spurs will aim to extend their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15 matches when they travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The club have an intense period coming up, comprising five matches in 15 days.