No place for Modric in Spurs squad

Wantaway playmaker Luka Modric is expected to be left out of Tottenham’s squad for Andre Villas-Boas’ first match in charge away at Newcastle.

The Croatian, who is close to sealing a transfer to Real Madrid, has not played all summer after refusing to go on the club’s pre-season tour of the United States and Spurs will not risk him getting injured in tomorrow’s game.

Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson are likely to make their debuts, but Scott Parker is out with an Achilles problem.

Provisional squad: Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini, Kaboul, Gallas, Dawson, Walker, Assou-Ekotto, Bassong, Vertonghen, Caulker, Naughton, Bale, Huddlestone, Lennon, Van der Vaart, Rose, Livermore, Sandro, Bentley, Jenas, Sigurdsson, Carroll, Townsend, Dos Santos, Defoe, Kane.