Premier League preview: Newcastle v Tottenham

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp remains doubtful over the fitness of Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart for Sunday’s trip to Newcastle.

The pair faces a race against time to recover from hamstring injuries ahead of the trip to St James’ Park to take on Alan Pardew’s fourth-placed Magpies.

The Spurs boss confirmed the 27-year-old Togolese international picked up the tear in Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Arsenal but said he is reticent to risk the on-loan Manchester City forward against Newcastle.

Van der Vaart poses a similar concern having exasperated a recurring hamstring problem while on international duty for the Netherlands.

The key pair heads an injury list that includes Vedran Corluka, Sandro and Niko Kranjcar, who all face late fitness tests ahead of the trip north.

Should Adebayor miss out, Jermain Defoe looms as his most likely replacement as Redknapp will again have to change his line-up as he has done in each of Tottenham’s opening six fixtures.

Undefeated Newcastle should go into the match with great confidence but Pardew’s men are yet to face a stern test which will come in the way of Spurs’ visit.

Newcastle currently occupy the fourth Champions League spot with four wins and three draws from their seven matches.

Key to the outcome will be the midfield battle, where Newcastle’s French playmaker Yohan Cabaye and the tough-tackling Cheik Tiote will attempt to marshall Spurs ace Luka Modric.

Striker Demba Ba, who has hit four league goals this season, looks to have shaken off a minor niggle suffered on international duty and will lead Newcastle’s attack.

With a game in hand on most of their rivals, Tottenham lie in sixth, three points behind Newcastle, having suffered heavy defeats to both Manchester clubs earlier in the season.

The sides drew 1-1 when they last met in January.