Tottenham v Chelsea Team News: Duo Return For Spurs + Injury Boost For Blues

Tottenham entertain Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Wednesday night in a crucial game that could play a major role in determining where the Premier League title ends up this season.

Ahead of the game, both managers have been speaking to the media at their pre-match press conference’s this afternoon and they’ve offered reporters team news and injury updates.

Double boost for Spurs

Let’s start with Tottenham and the hosts will welcome back two key players for the game with Jan Vertonghen and Kyle Walker both set for recalls after missing the win at Watford through suspension.

Vertonghen and Walker had to sit out the trip to Vicarage Road after collecting their fifth bookings of the season at Southampton last week but they should return to the starting eleven tomorrow which will be a huge boost for Tottenham.

However, there wasn’t such positive news on Erik Lamela as Mauricio Pochettino also confirmed that while the attacker is training well he’s still not ready to make his long-awaited return to the first team squad.

Lamela has been out for over two months with a niggling hip injury and has been working his way back to full fitness having returned to full training last month but he’s still not deemed fit enough to play for the first team.

TEAM NEWS: "@JanVertonghen & @kylewalker2 are available again. @ErikLamela still out but is training hard & working on fitness." – Mauricio pic.twitter.com/VeuW3tjvNZ

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 3, 2017

Alonso fit for Blues

Antonio Conte was also pleased to reveal some positive team news for Chelsea at Cobham this afternoon as he confirmed there are no injury problems to deal with ahead of the trip to north London.

There were concerns over the fitness of Marcos Alonso after he received treatment on an ankle problem following the 4-2 win over Stoke City at the weekend but the Spaniard was able to train yesterday and it looks like he’s fit for selection tomorrow.

Pedro is also back in contention after missing the Stoke game through suspension while Conte says the knock that David Luiz has been carrying since the Man City game is improving and it’s not expected to keep him out against Spurs.

Conte reports there are no injury problems going into tomorrow's game. #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 3, 2017

Conte says the injury David Luiz has been carrying since the Man City game is improving. #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 3, 2017

So both squads are in excellent health as we head in to this pivotal clash with Chelsea looking for a win that would see them extent their lead to eight points but a win for Spurs would see them close the gap and blow the title race wide open.