Injury crisis ahead of Chelsea encounter

Harry Redknapp is facing a minor injury crisis ahead of Tottenham’s London derby against Chelsea tonight.

Aaron Lennon (hamstring) is ruled out indefinitely after limping out of the Sunderland win after just 27 minutes while Gareth Bale (ankle), Ledley King (knee) and Jermain Defoe (hamstring) are all rated as doubtful for the decisive fixture.

Emmanuel Adebayor (foot) didn’t train on Wednesday but is expected to return to lead the line against the Blues while Younes Kaboul is set to return to the starting XI after serving his one-game suspension.

Long-term absentees Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are closing in on a return to training but are still a long way off returning to first team action.

Potential starting XI:

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