England striker Jermain Defoe is set to return to lead Tottenham’s bid for victory against Blackburn. Having scored five goals in his last four games, Russian Roman Pavyluchencko is favourite to start alongside him but midfielders Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas and David Bentley are all out. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce will be hoping to finally give a debut to Turkish star Yildiray Basturk after signing him in January’s transfer window.
Quick Check
Tottenham Hotspurs
- Roman Pavyluchenko has scored five goals in his last four games.
- Jermain Defoe is set to start after recovering from a hamstring problem.
- Tottenham have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home league games.
- Spurs have scored in their last eight games against Blackburn.
- Tom Huddlestone is sidelined by foot and ankle injuries.
- Midfielders David Bentley and Jermaine Jenas are also injured.
- Defender Ledley King will be out for another fortnight with a torn leg muscle.
- England star Aaron Lennon has been ruled out for a further five weeks by a torn groin muscle.
- Defender Jonathan Woodgate remains sidelined by a long-term groin problem.
- Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is set to miss the rest of the campaign after a serious motorbike accident.
Blackburn Rovers
- Turkish star Yildiray Basturk is hoping to finally make his debut.
- Midfielders David Dunn and Vince Grella are pushing for starts after recovering from injury
- Defender Lars Jacobsen remains sidelined by a groin problem.
- Blackburn have won only one of their last 18 league away games.
- Rovers have won only one of their last six visits to White Hart Lane.
- Blackburn have taken only seven points from 14 away matches this season.
Expert Advice
After flattering to deceive for so many seasons, Tottenham have shown they are capable of consistency this campaign and will be hungry for victory at White Hart Lane to maintain their push for a first-ever Champions League place. Harry Redknapp has the happy problem of trying to fit three in-form strikers into two places but injuries have not been kind to the Spurs boss in other areas of his team which will give encouragement to the visitors. If the game was at Blackburn, Sam Allardyce’s side would fancy their chances but Rovers are painfully short of confidence and form on the road, so Betsson’s odds of 2.12 for a home win by two goals or more looks a sound bet.
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