Spurs stick with defensive pair

Younes Kaboul: Has been in good form alongside Sebastien Bassong

Tottenham may continue with Younes Kaboul and Sebastien Bassong in central defence for the weekend game against QPR.

The makeshift centre-half pairing performed admirably against Blackburn during a 2-1 victory on Sunday following a series of injuries for Tottenham's defenders.

Harry Redknapp could still be without Ledley King and Vedran Corluka for Sunday's game against QPR, which is followed by the club's Europa League visit to Rubin Kazan, while Michael Dawson and William Gallas are also out.

Redknapp, though, was happy to see Kaboul and Bassong deal well with the threat that Rovers centre-back Chris Samba posed at the weekend.

"Kaboul is a fantastic header of the ball, but today he had it all on his plate with Samba, who is as good as I have seen," Redknapp said.

"For getting his head on the ball and getting into your box, he is amazing. They have got three or four great, big lads and him, and he heads every ball.

"Big Samba goes up, gets on the end of it and you are fighting for your lives."

Bassong was making his first Premier League start of the season having spent most of his time on the pitch this year in the club's Europa League campaign, where he has been captain.

He saw a move to QPR fall through in the summer but he is pleased with the partnership being formed with Kaboul.

"We are happy to play together, especially when we win," Bassong said. "I now wish we play together and keep winning.

"I love to play alongside Younes. He is a terrific player. He has everything. He is a French international player. He is worth it."

Bassong, meanwhile, impresses Kaboul, who said: "I am happy for him.

"He is in great form and we need that. He is doing the job every time he plays and he is a strong lad so we can trust him 100 per cent. There is no doubt about that."