The next assignment for Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham Hotspur side is a trip to the Riverside to play Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon looking for their third straight win.

Spurs starting to hit top form

It has taken a few games for Spurs to hit the ground running this season but they seem to be just doing that as they are now starting to show why they finished third last season.

Spurs started the season with two draws from their opening three games but back-to-back wins away at Stoke City and then a narrow victory at home to Sunderland last weekend means they now sit third in the table after five games.

The Lillywhites also faced Gillingham F.C in the EFL Cup in midweek and dispatched them quite easily winning the game 5-0. The goals in the game were scored by Christian Eriksen, who got a brace, Vincent Janssen, Josh Onomah and Erik Lamela.

Spurs will also take in confidence in their good record against Boro. They have only lost once in the nine most recent meetings, a 2-1 away defeat in August 2008 with the winner being scored by former Spurs player Mido.

Boro looking to cause an upset

Middlesbrough, on the other hand, have hit a bit of a slump after taking five points from their opening three games. Back-to-back to defeats to Crystal Palace at home and then defeat away to Everton last weekend has left Boro 13th in the table after five games.

The Boro players will look to bounce back after last weekend's defeat to Everton | Photo:
The Boro players will look to bounce back after last weekend's defeat to Everton | Photo: Rich Linley - Camera Sport / Getty Images

Under Karanka though, Boro are a really good footballing team and before the loss to Palace at home two weekends ago, their last home loss in the Premier League came against Spurs in April 2007. 

They will take heart that against Spurs they have scored 37 goals in the Premier League against them which is more than against any other side. 

Team News

Aitor Karanka revealed some good news on the injury front during his pre-match press conference. Cristhian Stuani and Jordan Rhodes have both recovered from injuries and are set to be in the squad for the game. The duo missed last weekend's match at Goodison Park against Everton but are now back in training.

It means that Grant Leadbitter and Fabio da Silva are the only players who are struggling for fitness ahead of the game but Karanka revealed that the pair could be available in the near future.

Pochettino has also revealed some positive news on the injury front with Eric Dier and Moussa Dembele both available for the game after coming off early against Sunderland struggling with cramp.

Harry Kane was stretched off the pitch and out of the ground by the Tottenham Hotspur medical team last weekend. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)
Harry Kane was stretched off the pitch and out of the ground by the Tottenham Hotspur medical team last weekend. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Harry Kane though will miss the game with an ankle injury which Pochettino doesn't know how long it will keep him out for. It means that Janssen will start the game and will be asked to try and score the goals in Kane's absence.

Pochettino also rested a number of his star players for the midweek game against Gillingham so they are likely to come back into the side.

Predicted line-ups

Middlesbrough predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Valdes; Barragan, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; de Roon, Forshaw; Nsue, Ramirez, Downing; Negredo.

Tottenham Hotspur predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1) Lloris; Walker, Dier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen; Wanyama, Dembélé; Sissoko, Alli, Son; Janssen.

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