Van der Vaart back for Spurs

Tottenham v Inter Milan

Rafael van der Vaart completed his surprise recovery from injury and Tom Huddlestone also returned for Tottenham’s Champions League clash against Inter Milan tonight.

Manager Harry Redknapp had all but ruled new talisman Van der Vaart out of the Group A game after the midfielder suffered a suspected hamstring injury in Saturday’s Barclays Premier League defeat at Manchester United, but he was back alongside the recalled Peter Crouch tonight.

Carlo Cudicini deputised for the suspended Heurelho Gomes, while Inter were also without their first-choice goalkeeper, with Luca Castellazzi standing in for the injured Julio Cesar.

Esteban Cambiasso was ruled out, meaning a rare start for former Portsmouth midfielder Sulley Muntari.

Teams:

Tottenham: Cudicini, Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch. Subs: Pletikosa, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Palacios, Bassong, O’Hara.

Inter Milan: Castellazzi, Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu, Muntari, Zanetti, Biabiany, Sneijder, Pandev, Eto’o. Subs: Orlandoni, Cordoba, Milito, Materazzi, Coutinho, Santon, Nwankwo.

Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)