Spurs set to be without key men
A number of key men could again be absent for Tottenham when they return to Barclays Premier League action against Everton.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Younes Kaboul and Etienne Capoue missed the win at Hull and Thursday's Europa League defeat of Partizan Belgrade, while Andros Townsend, Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose were also absent.
Kyle Naughton is suspended following his red card against Stoke, while fellow full-back Kyle Walker is still a few weeks away despite having returned to first-team training after abdominal surgery.
Harry Kane admits Tottenham will have "no excuse" should they fail to end their awful post-Europa League form against the Toffees.
Mauricio Pochettino's men, like so many Spurs sides in recent years, have struggled to balance domestic and European exertions.
This season's poor home record in the Premier League has brought that into sharp focus, with Liverpool, West Brom, Newcastle and Stoke all having won at White Hart Lane in games following the Europa League.
It is a shocking run Everton will look to extend on Sunday, although they too head into the match off the back of a European match on Thursday, when they won 2-0 at German side Wolfsburg.
Spurs had a far simpler task, overcoming already eliminated Partizan Belgrade 1-0 at home, and Kane knows the rot has to stop when Roberto Martinez's side visit.
"That is what we have got to look to change if we want to do well in the Premier League and hopefully we can start on Sunday," the in-form striker said.
"There is no excuse on Sunday because Everton played (on Thursday) night as well. It will be a good game."
Four injured players are in contention to return to the Everton side.
Steven Naismith, Leighton Baines (both hamstring), Gareth Barry (ankle) and Steven Pienaar (knee) will all be given a chance to prove their fitness.
James McCarthy's latest hamstring injury has yet to be assessed while Darron Gibson (knee), John Stones (ankle), Antolin Alcaraz (shoulder) and Bryan Oviedo are all expected to miss the game.
Everton boss Martinez expects Tottenham to mount a strong Champions League challenge over the remainder of the season.
Both teams have had an up-and-down start to the campaign and sit together on 17 points from 12 games.
Martinez said: "It helps because we're facing really strong opposition but they had an important and intense game as well so we're quite similar in the way we've been able to prepare for the game.
"It's not the same when you're facing an opponent who have had seven days to prepare.
"I really admire this Spurs side. I think they've got a really talented squad.
"They're a team that are fighting to get into the Champions League positions and I do think that they're going to be a really dangerous side as the new manager and players are getting used to the way they want to play.
"They're going to be a real force in the second half of the season, I'm convinced of that.
"Every aspect of this Spurs side has been tailor-made to get into the Champions League. It's just a matter of time and they will get there consistently."
Source: PA
