Line Up: Aston Villa v Spurs - No sign of Eric Dier - Spurs Web

Ryan Mason has named his Tottenham Hotspur side which will take to the field in this afternoon’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa.

Villa head into the fixture sitting eighth in the table and are just three points behind Tottenham who occupy sixth position in what could prove to be a decisive match in the quest for European qualification.

Tottenham secured their first win of Mason’s interim stint in charge of the north Londoners last weekend when Harry Kane’s header secured all three points against Crystal Palace.

The decision to sack Steven Gerrard in October has proven to be a shrewd decision by the Villains to replace him with Unai Emery who has transformed their fortunes from flirting with relegation to a strong chance of a top six finish.

Mason was full of praise for the work that the Spaniard has done in the Midlands, he told Football.London at yesterday’s pre-match press conference: “Obviously he has done a fantastic job, not only at Aston Villa but I am pretty sure everywhere he’s been in his coaching career he has done an amazing job.

“We understand we’re going to Villa Park and it will be a difficult match but we have to be ready to fight. We have to be ready to fight for a difficult match but at the same time to have confidence and belief that we can get a result.”

Spurs are already without Hugo Lloris, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Bentancur who will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.