Team news

Jenas a doubt for City clash Midfielder Jermaine Jenas is a doubt for Tottenham Hotspur's Barclays Premier League game with Manchester City as he is struggling to recover from food poisoning.

The England international returned to training on Tuesday but is a major doubt for Harry Redknapp's side who will also be without Ledley King (knee), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist and pelvis).

Redknapp confirmed that Luka Modric (leg), who has not started a game since August, will be on the bench while Roman Pavlyuchenko and David Bentley are also in contention despite being left out of Saturday's squad.

Mark Hughes' team had been tipped by some to mount a title challenge this year but they currently sit sixth, one place behind Spurs.

Some pundits have predicted Hughes will be sacked next summer, particularly if he fails to deliver Champions League football after a summer spending spree that brought the likes of Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry to the club.

Redknapp, though, believes his opposite number will remain at Eastlands for some time to come.

"I think Mark's doing a good job there and the people he works for appreciate what he does," said the Tottenham boss.

"I certainly don't see him going anywhere next season except being at Manchester City again.

"They are playing well. They look what I expected them to be - good, strong with terrific players. How many times have they lost this year? Once. That tells you everything." Wonger Shaun Wright-Phillips will definitely miss Manchester City's trip to the capital.

The England international was forced out of Saturday's draw at Bolton after aggravating an ankle injury and is already a doubt for Saturday's encounter with Sunderland.

Craig Bellamy is suspended for the trip to White Hart Lane but Nigel de Jong has recovered from swine flu, while fears that Emmanuel Adebayor was about to be laid low by the illness have proved unfounded.

After a run of eight draws in nine games, City could do with a few victories, even if they have lost fewer games than all their top flight rivals.

Yet White Hart Lane has not been a particularly happy hunting ground in recent years.

City have won only one league game at the famous north London venue since 1991 and Tottenham currently have one of the better sides of recent times thanks to the recruiting skills of Harry Redknapp.

"Spurs have a very good squad with plenty of depth," said Hughes. "If they are playing to their maximum they will always cause you problems.

Tottenham vs Man City

Last modified 14:15 08/01/10

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Mark Hughes sunk to his knees in sheer desperation with pain and despair etched across his face.

As the third goal went in, Manchester City’s under-pressure boss was made to realise you really don’t get much for £200m these days.

And the most expensive of all the big-name signings, just about summed up all of what is wrong with City after a night which puts Hughes back on the brink.

Brazilian superstar Robinho, all £32.5m worth, sulked as he walked straight down the tunnel after being substituted in the 59th minute.

No handshake for the manager, no acknowledgement to the bench, just a lonely walk to the dressing room as he showed his annoyance with his petulance.

This was a team of disjointed egos, stars and disappointments put to shame and utterly humiliated by a Tottenham team who wanted it more. Much more.

Tottenham midfielder Niko Kranjcar scored in either half while Jermain Defoe was also on target in the 54th minute.

But the really depressing part for City was that, after all the outlay by their wealthy Arab owners, there was so little fight.

In fact, City surrendered their 13 game unbeaten run without so much as a whimper.

But the statistics turned round the other way tell a very different story. City have now managed just one win in ten Premier League games which also includes eight draws.

That is what has cost City and left them floundering way down in eighth place but, even more depressing for Hughes, they are six points off the Champions League places.

Sadly for Hughes, City have spent big on players who do not seem to dig in when the going gets tough and the tough need to get going.

Robinho was one example after his lacklustre display. He rarely looked interested and White Hart Lane on a chilly, rainy December night clearly felt a long way from the Copacabana beach.

But Emmanuel Adebayor was not far behind him either. Considering Adebayor is a former Arsenal striker, the Tottenham fans hardly gave him much stick but, in truth, they probably forgot he was playing.

Adebayor rarely looked interested and when he blazed over from five yards in the 88th minute that just about summed up his and City’s night.

There are far too many like him in the City dressing room. While Hughes will feel some of his star names let him down badly last night, the City boss must also take his fair share of the blame for putting together such a team of mercenaries.

City were without the suspended Craig Bellamy who, for all of his faults, at least always runs his heart out.

Hughes also had to reshape his defence as England defender Joleon Lescott, another huge signing at £23m, was missing after undergoing knee surgery yesterday and could be out for six weeks.

In came home-grown England under-21 defender Nedum Onuoha at centre half and former Barcelona left back Sylvinho was at left back.

Brazilian left back Sylvinho has certainly seen better days and the 35-year-old was horribly exposed by Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon who destroyed City with a sparkling man-of-the-match display.

Lennon deserves huge credit for being a young player who has worked hard at his game, improved his crossing, final ball and finishing.

England winger Lennon showed just how much his crossing has improved in the past 12 months as he tore down the right in the 37th minute, stood up a cross to find Peter Crouch leaping at the back post.

Crouch’s header was blocked by City midfielder Stephen Ireland and yet there was Kranjcar on hand to force home the ball from close range.

It was no more than Tottenham deserved and White Hart Lane came alive as the home side were as bright and inventive as they were dull and unimaginative just four days earlier when they lost at home to Wolves.

Trouble is for City, teams now raise their game against Hughes’ big-spenders and that is when the big players are supposed to deliver and show their quality.

You would have expected a second half reaction but it did not come and Spurs went further ahead in the 54th minute - thanks to a real route one effort.

Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes’ long punt forward was headed on by Crouch, Kolo Toure completely missed the ball and Defoe nipped in ahead of the helpless Given to score.

Hughes snapped and hauled off Robinho, threw on Roque Santa Cruz and finally City rallied late on with another substitute, Martin Petrov, forcing Gomes into a smart save from an 87th minute free kick.

But it was too little, too late. Deep into injury time, Kranjcar nutmegged Adebayor and then did the same trick to Given to fire home from close range.

Tottenham fans revelled in their chants of: “You’re getting sacked in the morning to Hughes“ almost as much as their own celebrations. When you spend as much as City, you are there to be shot at.