Spurs kick off with three strikers

Tottenham manager Juande Ramos selected three strikers for today’s Premier League clash with Birmingham.

Skipper Robbie Keane, Dimitar Berbatov and Darren Bent all started with Jermain Defoe on the bench after recovering from a bout of flu.

Defender Younes Kaboul returned to the side after overcoming his groin problem but Jermaine Jenas was sidelined with the ankle injury sustained in Thursday’s 3-2 UEFA Cup victory over Aalborg.

Alex McLeish recalled goalkeeper Maik Taylor for his first game in charge of Birmingham and promoted Sebastian Larsson from the bench

Striker Cameron Jerome recovered from his hernia operation to take his place in the starting line-up.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Dawson, Kaboul, Bale, Lennon, Zokora, Malbranque, Keane, Berbatov, Bent.

Subs: Cerny, Lee, Boateng, Defoe, Huddlestone.

Birmingham: Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Djourou, De Ridder, Larsson, Nafti, Muamba, McSheffrey, Jerome.

Subs: Doyle, O’Connor, Forssell, Parnaby, Kapo.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)