Crystal Palace welcome back James Tomkins for Tottenham Hotspur clash but Tyrick Mitchell will miss out

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira will have one more centre-back to choose from against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night in the two team’s Premier League meeting after the return of James Tomkins, as per Football.London.

The English defender was sent off in the 57th minute for a second yellow card offence in his team’s 0-3 defeat against Fulham on Boxing Day. The 33-year-old has played just two games in the league this season and isn’t one of Vieira’s most trusted players in the starting XI.

But his return means that the Eagles will have an experienced head in defence which will look to keep a clean sheet against an out-of-form Tottenham attack.

Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi are the two highly-rated youngsters that the Eagles play in their defence when they are fit and available. Tomkins’ return could also mean he plays down the right flank, where Nathaniel Clyne usually plays, considering the former can deputise in that position.

Absentees for both teams

Mitchell’s absence, meanwhile, will be key. The English left-back was also sent off against the Cottagers and will not return for this game at Selhurst Park. Joel Ward filled in at left-back against Bournemouth in his team’s 2-0 win and could do so again vs Spurs.

Yves Bissouma picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in our depressing loss against Aston Villa on 1 January and will sit this one out. It remains to be seen if Rodrigo Bentancur will be fit to feature, otherwise we may have to play Oliver Skipp alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Dejan Kulusevski (ankle) and Richarlison (hamstring) are also doubts for the game and they were absent against the Villans. Hopefully, at least one of them is back in time to face Palace.

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• Dejan Kulusevski says he was ‘terrified’ when he joined Tottenham Hotspur from Juventus in January
• Alasdair Gold says Antonio Conte would like to sign Weston McKennie for Tottenham

The likes of Wilfried Zaha, Michael Olise, and Odsonne Edouard will not be kind to our defence that has been terrible in recent months. We need our strikers to be in form, especially Son Heung-min to put on his scoring boots, if we are to at least maintain a stronghold on a top-four spot.