Tottenham Hotspur match preview

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur
Barclays Premier League

Boleyn Ground
Sunday 25 November
Kick-off: 1.30pm
Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)

Live on Sky Sports

WHUTV - Live audio commentary along with behind the scenes footage in the run up to the game including Alan Curbishley's pre-match press conference and a chance to hear from Dean Ashton and Matthew Etherington. WHUTV also has all the highlights and reaction from every game this season - including the 5-0 win at Derby County. Click here for a special membership offer

Team news

George McCartney has been back in training this week after picking up an ankle injury against Derby. James Collins, Scott Parker and Dean Ashton are all vying for selection. Parker and Ashton both played and scored in a midweek practice match while Collins got two games under his belt on international duty with Wales.

Curbishley has also reported positive progress on Mark Noble and Hayden Mullins after hernia and foot troubles respectively, with both back in full training. Lee Bowyer, recovering from a hernia operation of his own, is suspended after five cautions while Craig Bellamy is out with a groin problem. Matthew Etherington is in line to face the club where he represented 51 times between December 1999 and August 2003

Tottenham are without captain Ledley King with his knee injury expected to keep him out until Christmas while fellow defenders Gareth Bale (foot) and Ricardo Rocha (ankle) are not fit either. Midfielder Steed Malbranque (ankle) and defender Younes Kaboul (thigh) are both rated doubtful but Juande Ramos should be able to call on his four forwards - Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent - after all figured on international duty. Defoe is coming back to face the club where he made 105 appearances, scoring 41 goals, between July 1999 and February 2004.

Background

Fresh from a 5-0 victory at Derby County on 10 November - the club's biggest winning margin away from home in the top flight since September 1962 - West Ham United are bidding to make it six matches unbeaten in all competitions. Victory would ensure the club are in the top half of the table heading into next Saturday's trip to Chelsea. The club, who at +8 have the best goal difference outside the top six, have yet to lose this season when taking the lead.

Without an away win in the Premier League this season, four points from the last two league matches has helped Tottenham to move clear of the relegation zone. Spurs are actually bidding to make it five games unbeaten in all competitions under Juande Ramos. The White Hart Lane outfit have also only conceded once in their last four games and have midfielders Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon in goalscoring form with both on target in the 4-0 defeat of Wigan Athletic a fortnight ago.

Victory for West Ham United would take them to 21 points, one point more than the club had last season after a 4-3 defeat by Tottenham on 4 March. A win would also leave Curbishley's side ten points ahead of their rivals from north London. The return fixture is due to be played at White Hart Lane on 8 March.

McCartney is bidding to make his 16th appearance for the club this season in all competitions - and is the only player who has featured in every game to date, starting in each one. In terms of the Barclays Premier League, only Robert Green and Matthew Upson have played every minute of the 12 matches. Bowyer is the club's top league scorer with four goals, while Etherington has three in the top-flight this campaign. Carlton Cole, with six, is the leading assist maker in the whole top flight.

Only Pascal Chimbonda has started every one of the 13 Premier League games to date for Tottenham this season while Robbie Keane has also featured in each one of the matches. Tottenham will be back in UEFA Cup action this coming Thursday when they receive Danish side Aalborg before welcoming Birmingham City in league action the following Sunday. Robbie Keane is the club's top scorer with six league goals, as well as four in cup competitions.

Head to head (last six Barclays Premier League meetings)

4 March 2007 - West Ham United 3-4 Tottenham Hotspur
22 October 2006 - Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 West Ham United
7 May 2006 - West Ham United 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur
20 November 2005 - Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 West Ham United
1 March 2003 - West Ham United 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur
15 September 2002 - Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 West Ham United

General information

All tickets are now SOLD OUT. For more information on ticketing, click here. For more information on the Boleyn Ground, including a detailed stadium plan and information on the smoke free policy, click here.

Weather: The forecast for Sunday is for an overcast day with temperatures set to reach around 11C.