Lambert monitoring Benteke

Paul Lambert is assessing Christian Benteke’s fitness before deciding whether to throw the striker back into action when Aston Villa host Tottenham on Sunday.

The Belgium international has been out since September with a hip injury but trained with his country earlier this week and was an unused substitute in their match against Wales on Tuesday.

Manager Lambert will look at his other international stars ahead of the match following their return to the midlands this week, but Jores Okore (cruciate ligament) and midfielder Charles N’Zogbia (Achilles) are long-term casualties.

Provisional squad: Guzan, Steer, Baker, Bennett, Vlaar, Clark, Luna, Lowton, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Delph, Westwood, Herd, Sylla, Tonev, Kozak, Helenius, Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor, Bowery.