AVB leaves Walker on the bench for Spurs

Kyle Walker was left out of Tottenham’s starting XI for the first time in a league match since August 2011 as Andre Villas-Boas looked to secure a third successive win at Fulham.

Kyle Naughton started ahead of Walker at right-back while Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey both started against their former employers.

Dimitar Berbatov captained Fulham against his old club while Ashkan Dejagah, Kerim Frei and Mladen Petric were also recalled after sitting out Wednesday’s 0-0 draw against Chelsea.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Senderos, Hughes, Riise, Frei, Diarra, Sidwell, Dejagah, Berbatov, Petric.

Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Baird, Karagounis, Richardson, Duff, Rodallega.

Tottenham: Lloris, Naughton, Dawson, Caulker, Vertonghen, Lennon, Dembele, Sandro, Bale, Defoe, Dempsey.

Subs: Friedel, Gallas, Sigurdsson, Falque, Walker, Livermore, Carroll.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)