TEAM NEWS: Dembele makes first start for Tottenham in Reading clash

Sep 16, 2012 3:10:00 PM

Andre Villas-Boas hands the former Fulham man a place in the starting XI after his goalscoring debut against Norwich at White Hart Lane a fortnight ago

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has handed Belgian international Moussa Dembele a first start for the club for their clash with Reading at the Madejski Stadium this afternoon.

The former Fulham man scored agaisnt Norwich City in Spurs' last game, and that goalscoring threat has seen his come into the side in place of Jake Livermore, who drops out of the squad.

Jermain Defoe continues as a lone striker, whilst Kyle Naughton comes into the side to replace Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Tom Huddlestone is on the bench after his red card in the Norwich game was overturned.

Brad Fridel remains in goal despite the signing of France international Hugo Lloris, and the American will make his 308th consecutive Premier League appearance.

Tottenham: Friedel, Walker, Gallas, Vertongen, Naughton; Sandro, Dembele, Sigurdsson, Lennon, Bale; Defoe.

Subsitutes: Lloris, Caulker, Dawson, Huddlestone, Townsend, Adebayor, Dempsey.

Reading: McCarthy; Gunter, Gorkss, Pearce, Harte; McCleary, Karacan, Leigertwood, McAnuff; Guthrie; Pogrebnyak.

Subsitutes: S Taylor, Shorey, Mariappa, Cummings, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre, Hunt.

More to follow...

Inside Goal.Com

Like Owomoyela, like Sam
The German-Nigerian has been put in the dicey position of having to decide his international future after J Loew called him up last week
Player Ratings: Siena 1-2 AC Milan
Goal was on hand to judge all the players as Allegri's men finished third in Serie A and secured a Champions League berth next season
Player Ratings: Barcelona 2-1 Valladolid
Goal rates the players on show as the newly-crowned Liga champions cruised past the challenge of Miroslav Djukic's men to keep up hopes of reaching 100 points
Arsenal hold their nerve in top-four battle
Arsene Wenger's side produced a clinical performance to secure a top-four Premier League finish but now they must kick on if they wish to challenge for honours next year
Who is the greatest Champions League striker ever?
Enter our competition now and you will be in with a chance of winning one of four replica football shirts. Simply pick your favourite and subscribe to our YouTube channel