Spurs can clip Magpies' wings

It might only be the Carling Cup third round but Wednesday night's tussle between strugglers Newcastle and Tottenham is massively important for both sides.

Spurs prop up the Premier league table after collecting just two points from five games, while crisis-club Newcastle are just two points better off in 19th place.

It's not a game to get involved in with huge stakes, but Spurs could be the pick to heap more woe on the Geordie nation.

It's often said that the strength of a side's subs bench indicates the quality of the team and Tottenham had Giovani, Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, Chris Gunter, Gilberto and Fraizer Campbell waiting in the wings at White Hart Lane in the draw with Wigan on Sunday.

Compare that with Shola Ameobi, Nacho Gonzalez, Sebastien Bassong, Ben Tozer, 18, Ryan Donaldson, 17, and Mark Doninger, 18 and it's obvious which side looks the strongest on paper.

Ramos is sure, like Newcastle, to be taking the tournament seriously and he will field a strong line-up.

Roman Pavlyuchenko may well be rested with the striker showing signs of fatigue and that could mean a start for the on-loan Fraizer Campbell or Giovani, while Luka Modric will be missing with a knee problem.

Newcastle will be without the suspended Danny Guthrie, while Mark Viduka and Alan Smith will still be missing. Obafemi Martins could return and Damien Duff is set to continue after his comeback at the weekend.

The Magpies can take encouragement from their recent home record against Spurs - winning the last four meetings at St James' Park. And you have to go back to 2004 for Tottenham's last win in the North-East, but Ramos' charges should reverse that trend and they look good to win in 90 minutes.