Momentum is building at Tottenham. Their form is good, with four wins in five; they are beginning to play the way André Villas-Boas wants, and injured players are returning. The visit of Stoke marks the beginning of a festive programme that, on paper at least, promises points, although the visitors should not be underestimated given they are unbeaten in seven games. Gareth Bale returns from hamstring trouble but he will not face his old adversary Charlie Adam, who has been granted compassionate leave following the death of his father. David Hytner
Venue White Hart Lane, Saturday 3pm
Tickets £35-£47(0844 844 0102)
Last season Tottenham 1 Stoke 1
Referee Lee Mason
This season's matches 11 Y34, R0, 3.09 cards per game
Odds Tottenham 3-5 Stoke 9-2 Draw 11-4
Tottenham Hotspur v Stoke City: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic Tottenham
Subs from Friedel, Cudicini, Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Caulker, Carroll, Huddlestone, Livermore, Adebayor, Parker, Townsend, Sigurdsson, Falqué
Doubtful Assou-Ekotto (knee), Adebayor (hamstring)
Injured Kaboul (knee, Jan)
Suspended None
Form guide WLWWWL
Disciplinary record Y26 R2
Leading scorer Defoe 9
Stoke
Subs from Nash, Sorensen, Whitehead, Palacios, Owen, Ness, Upson, Kightly, Arismendi, Jones, Edu
Doubtful None
Injured Delap (hernia, unknown), Wilson (broken leg, unknown)
Unavailable Adam (compassionate leave)
Form guide DDWWWD
Disciplinary record Y35 R2
Leading scorer Crouch 4
Match pointers
• Tottenham have failed to keep a clean sheet in their eight previous league meetings with Stoke
• No side have drawn 0-0 more often in the top five European leagues this season than Stoke (four)
• The former Spurs winger Matthew Etherington has scored four goals in six games against the London club
• Spurs have suffered only two defeats in their last 17 league games in the month of December
• Stoke have averaged a shot on target every 29 minutes this campaign, a division high
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