Published: 28 February, 2013
by DAN CARRIER

THE north London derby kicks off at 4pm Sunday and Spurs may offer a shock recall to striker Jermain Defoe.

The forward has been nursing an injury since the beginning of February but has been training hard all week and is now in contention to start at White Hart Lane.

Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, who sat out his team’s nervous 2-1 win on Saturday against Aston Villa, is also in line to be in the starting XI – and will be given the task of marking man of the moment Gareth Bale.

Spurs are the form team, having not lost in 11 matches, and have Bale showing world-class form. After his match-winning display on Monday in the 3-2 victory at West Ham, where the Welshman hit two stunning goals, Spurs boss Andres Villas-Boas spoke in superlatives. “He is unbelievable… a super talent and to see him keep on trying until the last minute exemplifies the talent he is. He is at a tremendous level this season and it is obvious to all he is enjoying his football.”

Spurs are four points clear as the season approaches its run-in and the derby is being billed as a must-win game for both sides.

Spurs midfielder Scott Parker believes his team-mates will go into the match full of confidence after their last-gasp winner against the Hammers. He said: “We’ve got players in our squad that Arsenal would want any day of the week. You can never say anything for certain but a win in that game would put us in a good position.

“Arsenal players would have watched the West Ham match and it’s deflating. I’ve been in that position when you’re watching the scores come in and you hear there’s been a last-minute goal in a game that’s important for your side. You’re praying it’s gone the way you wanted it to and then you hear it’s a goal for the team you did not want to score.”