LONDON (SE) - Tottenham Hotspur will be without star man Gareth Bale when Everton visit White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon in a massive game in the race for Champions League qualification.
Bale was stretchered off in the 2-2 draw with Basel in the Europa League on Thursday evening, to leave the north London club with a mounting injury crisis ahead of the Premier League run-in. Spurs (17-6-8) go into the latest round of matches in third, but have Chelsea, Arsenal and Sunday's opponents Everton hot on their heels, with all three chasing sides holding a game in hand.
"It's the business end of the season and we're all determined to finish in the top four," said midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored the equaliser against Basel and will play a big part during Bale's absence. "We know it will be tough against Everton, they are a top team with some great players, but we'll make sure we're ready for them."
Visitors Everton (13-12-5) would move to within just three points of Spurs with a win, but face five tricky away matches in the remainder of the season, and manager David Moyes' is targeting an improved record on the road.
"We have got an overload of away games in this month of April coming up now," said Moyes. "In the early part of the season our away form was better and we are going to have to try and improve on it in the remaining games and win some of those.
"To not concede any goals always gives you that chance of winning. If you don't score, at least you get a draw out of it. Thankfully we have been getting the results and we could do with another three or four clean sheets between now and the end of the season if we are to keep picking up points."
Tottenham are also without Younes Kaboul (knee), Sandro (knee) and Jermain Defoe (hip), while Aaron Lennon (knee) and William Gallas (calf) are unlikely to feature following injuries picked up against Basel. Everton have doubts over Kevin Mirallas (groin) and Tony Hibbert (calf).
Spurs haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last six league games, but have conceded just 15 goals at home this season. A Tottenham striker has not scored a goal for the club since New Year's Day, with midfielder Bale the top-scorer on 17 for the season.
Everton haven't played a league away games in 43 days, but have been strong on the road this season, losing just four and conceding only 18 in 15 matches.
Leighton Baines is one of just three outfield players to have feature in every minute of the club's Premier League action this season (the others being Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and Aston Villa defender Matthew Lowton), and the left-back's five goals makes him the league's highest scoring defender.
Everton haven't done a league double over Spurs since 1986, but go into Sunday's game on the back of consecutive wins against the Lilywhites. The Toffees stunned the north Londoners with two injury-time goals to win 2-1 when these teams met at Goodison Park in December, but the Merseysiders have picked up just one point from their last four league visits to White Hart Lane.
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