Modric starts for Spurs

Luka Modric made his first appearance of the season as Tottenham set about the difficult task of registering their first league win of the season against Manchester City at White Hart Lane.

The wantaway Croatian, who has been the subject of transfer interest from Chelsea all summer, started along with Peter Crouch and Vedran Corluka, who came in for Jermain Defoe and Kyle Walker for Harry Redknapp’s side.

Just four days after moving from Tottenham’s bitter rivals Arsenal, Samir Nasri made his City debut and there was also a place for former Gunner Gael Clichy among Roberto Mancini’s starting XI.

Tottenham: Friedel, Corluka, Dawson, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Modric, Kranjcar, Bale, Van der Vaart, Crouch.

Subs: Cudicini, Huddlestone, Pavlyuchenko, Defoe, Bassong, Walker, Livermore.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Toure Yaya, Barry, Silva, Nasri, Aguero, Dzeko.

Subs: Pantilimon, Richards, Milner, Johnson, Savic, Tevez, Balotelli.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)