Tottenham trio nearing return

Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart are both unavailable for Sunday’s match at Wolves as they continue their recovery from back and calf injuries respectively.

Harry Redknapp hopes the duo will be back for the second leg of the club’s Champions League last-16 match against AC Milan.

Ledley King is back in training after his groin injury but is unlikely to play at Molineux while Vedran Corluka (ankle), Jonathan Woodgate (groin), Younes Kaboul (knee) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) remain sidelined.

Jermain Defoe picked up a minor ankle knock during the club’s warm-weather training camp in Dubai this week but he is now back in training and is available for Sunday’s game.

Provisional squad: Gomes, Pletikosa, Cudicini, Hutton, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Dawson, Khumalo, King, Sandro, Palacios, Jenas, Lennon, Pienaar, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe.