Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
Tottenham are hopeful Harry Kane will play despite missing their midweek Europa League win with a broken nose.
Mousa Dembele and Tom Carroll are out with respective groin and Achilles problems, while Jan Vertonghen and Clinto Njie remain absent.
Swansea have a fully-fit squad after a 15-day break since their last game.
Their only pre-match concern has been head coach Francesco Guidolin but the Italian is expected to be in the dug-out following a chest infection.
Editor’s Note: It’s been a mixed 7 days for Tottenham, frustration and disappointment last Sunday as they were knocked out by Crystal Palace in the F.A. Cup but jubilation on Thursday as they cruised past Fiorentina in the Europa League to progress to the Round of 16.
The focus now shifts back to the Premier League and a bid to win a first domestic top flight title since 1961. With Leicester winning yesterday the gap is restored to 5 point at least temporarily so Spurs can’t afford any dropped points Today at White Hart Lane.
The main concern for Mauricio Pochettino this Afternoon will be whether Harry Kane will be able to return after breaking his nose last Sunday. If he does start he’ll be required to wear a mask similar to what Diego Costa currently is using for Chelsea. The Tottenham side may have had no recognised Striker on Thursday but that wasn’t an issue as they breezed past Fiorentina.
Another key player who will definitely be ruled out is Mousa Dembele. He now faces a race against time to be fit for the North London Derby. Will they miss his energy in the Middle of the park, again if Thursday’s evidence is anything to go by then there shouldn’t be too much of a concern. I would expect Ryan Mason to deputise again for Belgian. He scored Tottenham’s opener on Sunday and left the pitch to a standing ovation, just showing how the whole squad will need to play a vital part in this season’s run in.
Erik Lamela could also be pushing for a start on the right wing after an impressive performance on Thursday, his goal all but wrapped up the tie. It’s fair to say he has looked better in the Europa League than the Premier League this season but his work rate and confidence seems to growing by the week. Again he could be an important contributor between now and May.
Tottenham have won their last 5 league matches and will be looking to extend that to 6 especially if they want to keep heaping the pressure on leaders Leicester. Today they play hosts to a Swansea side who are batting not to win the league but to just stay in it.
Last time out Francesco Guidolin tasted defeat for the first time since taking charge of Swansea. A fortnight ago saw them lose to Southampton by a solitary Shane Long strike. They were 4 unbeaten before that and that run has given them a bit of daylight between themselves and the drop zone.
They will aim to extend that gap Today and take advantage of either defeats or non activity by the teams below this Weekend. If they were to win they would leapfrog Bournemouth and move to the relative safety of 15th
I don’t think that Win is going to happen this Afternoon as Spurs will be the hot favourites and certainly won’t to give up either 2nd place in the table or any more ground to Leicster. Harry Kane not playing could be an issue but I reckon a Home win for me.
