early news

Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry is set to return after recovering from a hamstring injury.
A hamstring injury has ended Joleon Lescott's season but he could recover before the World Cup while Marton Fulop again replaces Shay Given in goal.
Tottenham also have goalkeeper worries with Heurelho Gomes facing a fitness test on his groin problem.
Manager Harry Redknapp will once again make a late decision on central defender Ledley King.



Manchester City
Injured: M Johnson & Petrov (both knee), Given (shoulder), Gonzalez (groin), Lescott (hamstring)
Tottenham
Doubtful: Gomes (groin), King (knee)
Injured: Corluka & Kranjcar (both ankle), Cudicini (broken wrists), Woodgate (groin)

Four years ago, a dodgy lasagne was blamed for ending Tottenham's hopes of finishing in the top four but victory for Spurs at the City of Manchester Stadium will finally guarantee a diet of Champions League football at White Hart Lane next season.
It would also mark Tottenham's best-ever finish in the Premier League, and crown a remarkable renaissance since Harry Redknapp took over the bottom-of-the-table club just 18 months ago.
Manchester City are the only team that can prevent Spurs finishing in the top four and a victory for Roberto Mancini's side would put them in pole position with one game to go.
The Italian was brought in to replace Mark Hughes at Christmas with the clear purpose of qualifying for the Champions League but even if that is achieved, Mancini's future at Eastlands is far from certain.
What is certain is that Tottenham's fate is still in their own hands - having choked in the FA Cup semi-final last month, another failure would surely be too much to stomach even for their long-suffering fans.


Head-to-head
• Tottenham have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the sides in all competitions, and 10 of the last 11 in the Premier League.
• City's only league win against Spurs in the last seven years was the 2-1 home victory in March 2008. City's scorers that day were Stephen Ireland and Nedum Onuoha.
Manchester City
• City have lost just six Premier League games this season. They have never lost fewer than seven top flight games in a season.
• City have only won three of their last six home matches in the Premier League.
• City's top scorer Carlos Tevez, who could make his 100th Premier League start, needs one more goal to bring up his half century in the Premier League.
Tottenham
• Tottenham have won eight of their last 10 league games and scored in all of the last 10.
• Spurs have won just two of their eight away games in the Premier League since Christmas - at Stoke and Wigan.
• Spurs have won all 17 league games in which they have led at half-time.
LEADING GOALSCORERS



Manchester City
Tevez: 29 goals (23 league); Adebayor: 14 goals (14 league)


Tottenham
Defoe: 24 goals (18 league); Crouch: 12 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Bennett
Assistant referees: Jake Collin & Martin Yerby
Fourth official: Lee Probert
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Man City (W3-1 v Aston Villa, h): Fulop, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge, Adam Johnson (Wright-Phillips 77), De Jong, Vieira, Bellamy, Adebayor, Tevez (Richards 88). Subs not used: Nielsen, Onuoha, Santa Cruz, Garrido, Sylvinho.
Tottenham (W1-0 v Bolton, h): Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley (Lennon 73), Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Gudjohnsen 87), Defoe (Crouch 72). Subs not used: Alnwick, Jenas, Palacios, Bassong.
MOST RECENT MEETING

Tottenham 3-0 Manchester City (16 December 2009)


Tottenham scorers: Kranjcar 37, 90, Defoe 54

im so nerveos. im not guna be able to concentrate watchin sean lock. i have to wait until about 11 15 until il be able to watch the game. just hope i dont find out the score. come on u spurs 3 1 defoe