Tottenham Hotspur head into Saturday sitting second in the Premiership table, six points behind league leaders Liverpool. On Boxing Day they achieved an emphatic 5-0 rout over AFC Bournemouth that sent a massive message. With Manchester City losing on Wednesday, Spurs leapfrogged the Sky Blues and made it known that the title race will feature three teams this season, not two.
Now they will host mid-table side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wembley on the weekend. Let’s take a look at their injury and fitness situation. Midfielder supreme Dele Alli faces a late fitness test, as he missed the romp over the Cherries due to the hamstring injury he suffered against Everton.
Elsewhere, fellow midfielder Eric Dier is still out as he continues recovering from an appendectomy. Defender Jan Vertonghen (thigh) and central midfielder Victor Wanyama (knee) are long term absentees currently progressing in their on-field rehabilitation. Another central midfielder, Mousa Dembele, is entering the final stages of his rehab, while defender Serge Aurier (groin) has returned to training and could be in contention for this one.
In flipping over to the visitors, there are no new injury concerns to report for Wolves.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will likely make a couple changes from Wednesday though, perhaps bringing Ruben Neves back into the first team after resting him on Boxing Day.
Also, we could see Ivan Cavaleiro in place of Adama Traore starting at left wing.
Wolverhampton Wanderers at Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Kick-off: 3pm (BST), 10am (EST) Saturday December 29, Wembley Stadium
Google Result Probability: Tottenham win- 71%, Draw 19%, Wolves win- 10%
Odds via Bet Fair: Tottenham win 4/11, draw 4/1, Wolves 9/1
Tottenham Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: Tottenham 3, Wolves 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.