Tottenham Hotspur will be looking to put their European disappointment to one side and record their fourth consecutive Premier League win when they welcome Aston Villa to White Hart Lane on Sunday.

Spurs conceded a late equaliser against Panathinaikos on Thursday, but have been showing much-improved form in domestic competition after a shaky start to Andre Villas-Boas's tenure.

The Portuguese is expected to name the same starting XI that broke Tottenham's 23-year Old Trafford hoodoo with a 3-2 victory over Manchester United last Saturday.

Emmanuel Adebayor is nearing a return to fitness, and may be named on the bench, with Jermain Defoe continuing as the lone striker, while Villas-Boas is likely to recall goalkeeper Brad Friedel in place of Hugo Lloris.

Midfield duo Jake Livermore and Scott Parker are still absent with injury, while full-back pair Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Naughton are also unavailable.

Villa boss Paul Lambert may hand Darren Bent a start against his former club after the England striker was dropped to the bench for the West Midlands derby against West Bromwich Albion last weekend.

Christian Benteke is likely to miss out, with Gabriel Agbonlahor dropping into midfield to form a 4-5-1 system that has been employed by Lambert away from home.

Recent form:

Spurs: WWWDD
Villa: DLWDL

Possible lineups:

Spurs: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen; Sandro, Dembele; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale, Defoe

Villa: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Bennett; El Ahmadi, Delph, Albrighton, Holman, Agbonlahor; Bent

Sports Mole says: 2-0

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