Tottenham vs Newcastle

TOTTENHAM LlorisWalker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto Dembele, Parker Lennon, Holtby, Bale Dempsey

NEWCASTLE   KrulDebuchy, S Taylor, Coloccini, Santon Perch, Cabaye Gutierrez, Sissoko, Gouffran Cisse

Tottenham is without Jermain Defoe (ankle), who picked up an injury in the 1-0 win over West Brom, so Clint Dempsey is likely to start up front.

Though Togo have been knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations, Emmanuel Adebayor’s return from South Africa was delayed and he is not expected to start.

Sandro (knee) is out for the remainder of the season, though Younes Kaboul (also knee) will return to training next week and could be available within three weeks.

Newcastle have Cheikh Tiote available once more, with the midfielder’s Ivory Coast team having been knocked out of the Afcon by Nigeria, though he may have to settle for a spot on the bench.

Hatem Ben Arfa (hamstring) remains absent, so Jonas Gutierrez and Yoan Gouffran will keep their places either side of Moussa Sissoko, fresh from his man-of-the-match display against Chelsea.

Danny Simpson (toe), Ryan Taylor and Dan Gosling (both knee) remain injured, while new signing Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is not expected to usurp Fabricio Coloccini and Steven Taylor in defense.

• Tottenham is unbeaten in its last nine Premier League games, scoring 13 goals and conceding just four – and only Manchester United (two) has failed to score in fewer games than Spurs (three).

• The White Hart Lane outfit has only conceded eight goals in its last 13 games, and has kept a clean sheet in six of its last eight home matches against Newcastle.

• Clint Dempsey (pictured right), likely to deputize for the injured Jermain Defoe up front, has five goals in his last seven games for Spurs, and netted for USA in midweek.

• Spurs have won 77.7 percent of the league matches in which Gareth Bale has scored, though only two of the Welshman’s 11 Premier League goals have come at home this season.

• No side has averaged more shots at home than Tottenham (22.7 per game), while 74 percent of the north London club’s goals have been in the second half of matches.

• Newcastle recorded its first back-to-back victories of the season against Aston Villa and Chelsea – before that, Alan Pardew’s side had lost six of its previous eight games.

• The Magpies have conceded 23 goals in their last 10 games, despite their woodwork also being struck a league-high 16 times this season.

• The St James’ Park outfit has averaged more long balls per game (73) than any other side in the Premier League.

• Only Aston Villa (51) has received more yellow cards than Newcastle (49), while no player has been booked more often than James Perch (eight).

• Newcastle’s 3-2 victory over Chelsea last Saturday was the first time in 27 months that they came from behind to win a Premier League match – the last occasion was a 2-1 win against West Ham in October 2010.