Team news ahead of Saturday evening's Premier League clash between Tottenham and Newcastle at White Hart Lane (kick-off: 5:30pm).

Tottenham forward Rafael van der Vaart has been ruled out after he failed to overcome the calf injury that kept him out of Monday's draw at Liverpool.

Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe (both hamstring) are back in the frame after missing the game at Anfield, but Younes Kaboul (knee) and Sandro (calf) are doubts.

Ledley King (knee) will be given a late fitness test, but William Gallas (calf) and Tom Huddlestone (ankle) are out.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will be without striker Leon Best and utility man Ryan Taylor.

Best could miss the rest of the season with the medial ligament injury he suffered against Aston Villa last weekend, while the ankle problem Taylor sustained in the same game is less serious, but will keep him out at White Hart Lane.

Yohan Cabaye completes his three-match ban, Cheick Tiote is still on African Nations Cup duty while defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) and midfielders Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) continue their respective recoveries.

Tottenham (from): Friedel, Gomes, Cudicini, Assou-Ekotto, Rose, Kaboul, Khumalo, Walker, King, Dawson, Nelsen, Livermore, Sandro, Parker, Bale, Kranjcar, Lennon, Dos Santos, Modric, Defoe, Adebayor, Saha, Dawkins, Lancaster, Luongo.

Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Gosling, Abeid, Ba, Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands.