Tottenham v Birmingham preview

Tottenham are hoping for more goals from Frederic Kanoute to lift them away from the relegation zone when Birmingham visit White Hart Lane.

The striker has scored 12 times this season including a weekend hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup.

Acting manager David Pleat will learn on Wednesday if he loses his striker for Mali's African Cup of Nations campaign, which starts in Tunisia from January 24.

Pleat is also hoping Dean Richards and Darren Anderton will have shaken off calf injuries in time to be in the squad, but skipper Jamie Redknapp and Christian Ziege (both knee) remain sidelined.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has severe injury problems ahead of his side's trip to North London.

Matthew Upson and Stan Lazaridis suffered ankle and groin injuries respectively in Saturday's FA Cup clash with Blackburn which will sideline them for eight and four weeks.

Darren Purse is the obvious candidate to replace Upson but Bruce will have to juggle his side around to find a left back replacement for Lazaridis as first choice Jamie Clapham is still out with a hamstring injury.

Christophe Dugarry (knee) is not ready to return but David Dunn is expected to be fit after being substituted as a precaution against Rovers because of his recent calf injury.