Newcastle vs Tottenham Hotspur preview - Toon internationals in the frame

Posted Sunday, October 16, 2011 by PA

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was a relieved man after seeing all his international stars return to Tyneside unscathed ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

There were fears that France midfielder Yohan Cabaye (ankle) and Senegal striker Demba Ba (knee) might be struggling, but both are fit and available.

Danny Guthrie (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (hamstring), however, are doubts after picking up injuries on reserve-team duty while Mike Williamson (broken arm) remains on the sidelines.

Newcastle have surprised many onlookers with their form to date and a rare air of calm has descended on Tyneside.

Pardew, of course, arrived at St James' amid something of a furore in the wake of Chris Hughton's untimely demise, and admitted from the off that he would have to win over the dissenters.

He maintains that is still a work in progress, and he knows Sunday's game will be the sternest test yet of his rebuilt team's pedigree.

Pardew said: "I wouldn't be sitting here saying I have won them over at this stage.

"It's just important that I think they are sensing that we have got a plan and we are trying to put it in place and put pace in the team and play the game in the Newcastle manner.

"Sunday will be a watershed for us because we are in good form and we are playing one of the top teams in good form, so it's going to be a real test for us to try to compete with Tottenham.

"But our bench looks a lot stronger than it did last year, a lot stronger, and that's going to help.

"At home, we don't really fear anybody and we didn't last year. We had different characters in the dressing room who didn't have that in them anyway - Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan don't carry that fear.

"But we have got a different side this year and their lack of fear comes more from the run that we have been on and the confidence they have in each other.

"We look on the training ground a confident team, and that is always the way you want to go into a game, in a really confident manner, and that's where we are at the moment."

Tottenham will give a fitness test to Emmanuel Adebayor after the striker suffered a hamstring injury in the club's win over Arsenal two weeks ago.

Rafael van der Vaart should be fit despite a hamstring niggle, but Sandro (calf) and Aaron Lennon (groin) are doubts and Niko Kranjcar is likely to be out for some time after tearing a thigh muscle while on international duty with Croatia.

Vedran Corluka also suffered a foot injury with Croatia and will miss this weekend's game, while long-term absentees William Gallas (calf), Michael Dawson (Achilles) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.