Lennon starts in battle for Champions League place

Harry Redknapp handed Aaron Lennon his first start since December as Tottenham looked to win their £50m confrontation with Manchester City and book a place in next season’s Champions League.

Lennon has made two substitute appearances since recovering from a groin injury but was unleashed from the start as part of a Tottenham side also containing Heurelho Gomes and Ledley King, who had been major doubts.

As expected, City boss Roberto Mancini recalled Gareth Barry for a game he felt could “change the history” of the Eastlands outfit if it went their way.

Man City: Fulop, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge, Adam Johnson, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Subs: Nielsen, Richards, Onuoha, Wright-Phillips, Santa Cruz, Sylvinho, Vieira.

Tottenham: Gomes, Kaboul, Dawson, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Crouch, Defoe.

Subs: Alnwick, Bentley, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Palacios, Gudjohnsen, Bassong.

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)