11 not out as Spurs make Stoke trip
Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Ben McAleer in MATCH PREVIEW, Match Preview, Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham travel to the Britannia stadium to take on a resurgent Stoke City side as they look to extend their unbeaten run to 12.

And if Spurs manage to pick up a win over Tony Pulis’ side, it will be their seventh in a row, something they haven’t done since 1967.

However, Harry Redknapp has a few injury concerns ahead of the away fixture with Jermain Defoe (hamstring), Ledley King (knee) and Gareth Bale (knock) all set to face late fitness tests ahead of the tough encounter.

Better news for Redknapp sees Niko Kranjcar return to full training following a thigh problem he picked up on international duty for Croatia while Michael Dawson is making good progress on his rehabilitation from Achilles surgery but Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remains sidelined.

Potential starting XI:

Friedel; Walker, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale; Van der Vaart, Adebayor

Key Battles

Former Spurs striker Peter Crouch will have his work cut out for him against Younes Kaboul. The Frenchman has won the most aerial duels and will need to be dominant best on Sunday, especially as 31% of the goals they have conceded this season have come from headers, the highest percentage in the Premiership.

Should Gareth Bale start, chances are he will come up against Robert Huth at right-back and the tenacity of the Welshman has seen two red cards handed out to opposition full-backs this season while Emmanuel Adebayor will be hoping to get the best of another former Spur, Jonathan Woodgate, and with the defender admitting he has been below-par this season, Adebayor will be hoping to get the better of him at the weekend. 

Article originally appeared on To the Lane and Back (http://www.tothelaneandback.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.