Stars out for Santini

New Spurs boss Jacques Santini will be forced to make do without a host of big names when he makes his Premiership bow against Liverpool at White Hart Lane.

Striker Robbie Keane is a long-term absentee with an ankle ligament problem, while Simon Davies is also ruled out despite being on the road to recovery following a shin operation.

Defenders Dean Richards, Anthony Gardner, Stephen Kelly and Mbulelo Mabizela all miss out with various knocks – while Timothee Atouba, Nourredine Naybet and triallist Edson Da Silva are included in a squad of 16 but awaiting international clearance.

Team (from): Keller, Robinson, Naybet, King, Doherty, Bunjevcevic, Edman, Brown, Redknapp, Mendes, Davis, Atouba, Defoe, Kanoute, Da Silva, Ifil.