Dempsey a doubt for Spurs

Forward Clint Dempsey is a doubt for Tottenham’s St Stephen's Day fixture at Aston Villa after he missed Saturday’s draw against Stoke with a groin problem.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto may make his long-awaited comeback from a knee injury while Scott Parker could also make his first start of the season after coming off the bench in the last two games following his recovery from an Achilles injury.