Switch article view:Match preview Newcastle aim to spoil hero Redknapp's homecoming at Tottenham
By Julian Shea.
Kick off Saturday 11 February 2012 at 17:30, White Hart Lane.
Newcastle fans may have a reputation for making a bit of noise and creating an atmosphere, but even they will probably just have to sit back and let the home fans do their thing when Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has his glorious homecoming at White Hart Lane on Saturday.
Cleared of tax evasion in the morning, then shoved to the front of the queue to be England manager around tea time - Wednesday was a day to remember for Redknapp for many reasons.
With the charges against him disproved, he can now give his uninterrupted attention to the job he was already doing very well despite a major distraction.
First up will be trying to pull a team together - Rafael van der Vaart (calf) is definitely out, as are defender William Gallas (calf) and midfielder Tom Huddlestone (ankle) and Younes Kaboul (knee) and Sandro (calf) are doubts,
Ledley King's knee needs a late test but Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe (both hamstring) should be fit.
As for the visitors, Papiss Cisse made a dramatic debut for Newcastle last week, coming on and scoring a dazzling winning goal against Aston Villa, and the Magpies will be hoping it was not just beginners' luck as he could become a first-team regular straight away.
That is because Republic of Ireland international Leon Best faces several weeks on the sidelines as he recovers from a knee ligament injury picked up in a challenge by Stephen Warnock.
Ryan Taylor (leg) also picked up an injury in that game, so he joins Steven Taylor (Achilles), Sylvain Marveaux (hip and groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) on the sidelines.
Cheick Tiote is still not back from the African Cup of Nations, and midfielder Yohan Cabaye serves the final game of his three-match ban. Listen to our football experts Russ Williams, Jim Proudfoot and Ian Wright for a look ahead to the weekend's games in Friday's edition of Ian Wright's podcast.
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