TEAM NEWS: Bale returns in experimental Tottenham XI against Fulham

18/03/2013 1:15:00 AM

Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Kyle Naughton are preferred over Aaron Lennon and Kyle Walker among five changes for the hosts while Martin Jol names an unchanged side for the visitors

Gareth Bale returns to Tottenham's starting line-up to face Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

The Welshman is back in the team after serving a suspension in Spurs' midweek Europa League tie against Inter.

He is one of five Tottenham changes from the San Siro as Hugo Lloris, centre-backs Michael Dawson and Steven Caulker plus left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto also return to action.

Andre Villas-Boas's formation is unclear with three orthodox central defenders chosen; Assou-Ekotto could push forward onto the left of midfield or the Portuguese may elect to use Jan Vertonghen in defensive midfield along with Scott Parker.

Fulham, meanwhile, name an unchanged side to that which drew at Sunderland in their last league outing.

Steve Sidwell recovered from a knock in time to make Martin Jol's starting line-up.

Tottenham: Lloris; Naughton, Caulker, Dawson, Vertonghen; Sigurdsson, Dembele, Parker, Assou-Ekotto; Adebayor, Bale
Subs: Friedel, Walker, Carroll, Holtby, Livermore, Defoe, Dempsey

Fulham: Schwarzer; Riether, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise; Dejagah, Sidwell, Karagounis, Duff; Ruiz; Berbatov
Subs: Etheridge, Hughes, Richardson, Eyong, Emanuelson, Petric, Rodallega

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