Spurs hoping to capitalize on rivals’ mistakes

Tottenham travel to Carrow Road hoping to return to winning ways, and capitalise on their top four rivals’ failure to pick up maximum points on Boxing Day.

However, the North Londoners will have to make the trip to Norwich without captain Ledley King and Jermain Defoe.

King continues to suffer from a knee complaint and after playing the full 90 minutes against Chelsea, the Premier League encounter comes too soon for the Spurs stalwart.

Defoe, meanwhile, is suffering from a hamstring problem he picked up prior to the Sunderland win and despite being hopeful of a return on Tuesday, looks set to miss out once more.

Better news, however, should see Rafael Van der Vaart recover in time for the away match with the Premiership new boys while Younes Kaboul is set for a late fitness test, with both suffering from hamstring complaints in the 1-1 draw with Chelsea last week.

“We’re hoping Rafa will be fit and it looks like there’s a chance he’ll be okay,” Redknapp told the club’s official website.

“Jermain isn’t fit though, Ledley was okay after the Chelsea game but this one has come around too quickly for him. He’s not fit.

“We’re not sure on Younes yet, we’ll have to see how he is.”

Aaron Lennon (hamstring), Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are all sidelined and will miss the game.

Potential starting XI

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

Key Battles

Whether it is William Gallas or Younes Kaboul that is coming up against Grant Holt, both will have to be on their toes to stop the Norwich captain, who has seemingly adjusted well to the rigour of the Premiership with seven goals to his name in 15 appearances.

John Ruddy is enjoying a fine return to the upper echelons or English football, having spent time with Everton in the past, and if Emmanuel Adebayor is to add to his nine goals for Spurs this season, will have to be firing on all cylinders on Tuesday night while Sandro and Parker have been controlling things in the middle in the last two games together and are expected to get the better of David Fox and Andrew Surman in the centre of the park.