Match Preview: Tottenham Vs Crystal Palace

Ahead of Tottenham's first game of the Barclays Premier League 2013-2014,we look at the team news and quotes.

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Gareth Bale, an obvious summer target for Real Madrid, will be out injured with a foot injury and definitely wont feature in the clash at Selhurst Park.

Lewis Holtby remains side-lined due to a knee injury and is also unavailable for selection. The versatile German midfielder is expected to be fit before the North London Derby at The Emirates.

Good news for Spurs fans is that Jan Vertonghen could feature in the squad. The Belgian defender faces a late fitness test before the Sunday encounter against the newly-promoted club.
  "Let’s wait and see on Jan," said Andre Villas Boas after training on Friday. "He’s made good  progress so there is a small chance he could make the squad."

When asked about Younes Kaboul,AVB said,
   "He’s looking extremely good. He only played 20 minutes for France so he was able to train fully today and he did very well. There have been some good signs from him." 
  With Kaboul returning to fitness,AVB could give him a few minutes. New signing Etienne Capoue is likely to slot in directly in defence with club captain Dawson,who had a few things to say before their match on Sunday.'We didn't get off to a flyer last season like we wanted to,' the Tottenham captain told Spurs TV Online.
'We showed strength, commitment and spirit to fight back, but if we had started better then who knows where it would have taken us? Hopefully this year we can get off to a flyer. 'Hopefully it will be the start of a great year that has more ups than downs.'    Dawson has underlined the importance of a quick start,which we certainly didn't display last season which saw us only take 2 points from our first 3 games.

The travelling fans would be hoping to see their big money signing,Soldado step up in the absence of Gareth.
All the four signings Spurs made this summer- Paulinho,Chadli,Capoue and Soldado are available for selection and most of them are likely to feature this weekend and make their debuts.

COYS!


Writer: Aman Tukrel

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