[bandini]

Manchester City defender Richard Dunne faces a late fitness test on his injured shin ahead of his side's Barclays Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Dunne needed nine stitches in the injury he sustained during last week's defeat to Reading and has complained of soreness but boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has refused to rule him out.

Dunne's absence would leave Eriksson with few defensive options with Michael Ball (knee) and Micah Richards (knee) still out. Martin Petrov is banned, but Nedum Onuoha is back after a hamstring strain.

Eriksson, meanwhile, hopes to move into a better bargaining position with returning club owner Thaksin Shinawatra by inspiring City to their first win in four games over Tottenham.

Former Thai prime minister Thaksin is expected to jet back for the game after an extended stay in his homeland and has expressed concern over the way City have slumped out of the UEFA Cup places.

But Eriksson has an agenda of his own as he plans to meet Thaksin next Monday armed with a "very long'' list of big name players he hopes to attract to Eastlands next season.

Eriksson said: "The chairman is coming on Sunday and I hope to meet him on Monday. Of course we are going to talk about this season but even more about next season.''

City's failure to win in three matches since victory at Old Trafford has seen them drop to ninth place but Eriksson is refusing to give up on his side's chances of squeezing back into a European berth.

Eriksson added: "The most important thing at the moment is we don't give up and we go on fighting for every point we can bring in.

"Our problem in the last few games has been the last pass and not scoring any goals. The other problem is that we have conceded four easy goals.

"It's not Manchester City if you compare how we were early in the season. If you look at the statistics for possession and crosses and shots we are more or less the same as we were at the start.''

Scotland full-back Alan Hutton is expected to return to Tottenham's squad against City.

Centre-backs Younes Kaboul (knee) and Ricardo Rocha (groin) have been carrying knocks, while Gilberto is back in contention after being dropped against PSV Eindhoven.

Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) are out for the season.

Michael Dawson insists Spurs have the mentality to make sure their Barclays Premier League season does not tail off.

Spurs secured European football next term after winning the Carling Cup but are out of every other competition and are virtually safe from relegation.

Dawson still wants to push on for a top-half finish in the league and could get his chance against City as captain Ledley King has a calf strain.

He has dismissed suggestions Spurs will now be `on the beach'.

"Every game we play, we take it as seriously as the last one,'' said the 24-year-old defender. "And it's up to us to get up that league.

"Before the Carling Cup, if you ask the players they were looking forward to the final. That's gone now.''

Dawson wants to make up for missing the triumph at Wembley last month by playing a part in the rest of the campaign.

He had a hamstring injury when Spurs defeated Chelsea to end their nine-year trophy drought, then made his comeback last weekend against West Ham.

He was on the bench against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday when Spurs crashed out of the UEFA Cup on penalties but is hoping to get back in the side.

"Of course we now want to climb the table,'' he added. "We've got great players and we're never going to be satisfied with winning one cup.

"It was a great achievement to win the trophy. Full credit goes to the players at Wembley, but we realise we have to push on.''

source: ESPNsoccernet - Preview: Man City vs Tottenham - English Premier League