Tottenham Hotspur welcome Crystal Palace to White Hart Lane on Saturday hoping to stay unbeaten in the Premier League under Tim Sherwood's management.
A Roberto Soldado penalty was enough for Spurs to down the Eagles on the opening day of the season, but a lot has changed since then, with both teams now led by new bosses.
The Spaniard is one of 10 Lillywhites players that are fitness doubts. Younes Kaboul, Jan Vertonghen and Paulinho are definitely absent, and this match may also come too soon for Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jermain Defoe, who is understood to be close to finalising a move to MLS outfit Toronto FC.
Erik Lamela and Lewis Holtby scored in a friendly match this week as they each continued their recovery from knocks, but should they be fit, they will likely start on the bench, with Sherwood expected to keep faith in Aaron Lennon and Christian Eriksen in attacking midfield positions.
Andros Townsend and Sandro have both returned to training and have a more realistic chance of featuring from the off, with teenage midfielder Nabil Bentaleb and Etienne Capoue on standby if the Brazilian is not available, with Nacer Chadli likewise if Soldado cannot shake off a calf strain.
Tony Pulis has kept changes to a minimum in his reign thus far as he attempts to establish a settled Palace team, so most of the XI that began the FA Cup win over West Bromwich Albion may be retained.
Captain Mile Jedinak and Jason Puncheon are two men that could return in midfield, though, with 18-year-old Hiram Boateng likely to drop out after making his first-team bow against the Baggies.
With Cameron Jerome still sidelined, Pulis may restore Marouane Chamakh up front alongside Dwight Gayle, or select the ex-Arsenal forward in attack on his own if he chooses to reinforce the centre of the park with another body, which could be Adlene Guedioura, if he is fit following a rib injury.
Recent form
Spurs: WWDWLW
Palace: DLWLLW
Possible starting lineups
Spurs: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Chiriches, Rose; Lennon, Dembele, Sandro, Eriksen; Chadli; Adebayor
Palace: Speroni; Ward, Mariappa, Gabbidon, Delaney; Bolasie, Jedinak, Dikagcoi, Bannan, Puncheon; Chamakh
Sports Mole says: 1-1
Joe Fish
