Middlesbrough v Spurs preview

Ramos begins first full season in charge at White Hart Lane

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 15th August 2008

Juande Ramos Tottenham

Ramos: Middlesbrough trip

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Boro 1 Spurs 1

SKY BET odds: Boro 2/1, Draw 9/4, Spurs 11/8

One to Watch: Luka Modric

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Tottenham open their season at Middlesbrough, hoping to avoid a similar North East setback which set the tone for their league campaign last term.

Twelve months ago, Spurs travelled to Sunderland tipped as realistic challengers for a top four place in the Premier League, but a last-gasp 1-0 defeat was the beginning of an unhappy season which saw Martin Jol replaced by Juande Ramos.

Ramos may have guided the White Hart Lane side to Carling Cup glory, but Spurs' league displays left much to be desired as they ended the season in 11th place, 10 points above the relegation places and 30 away from Liverpool in fourth.

Much more is expected for the new campaign, with Ramos having invested heavily to bring goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, winger David Bentley, Croatia midfielder Luka Modric and exciting Barcelona youngster Giovani dos Santos to North London.

Striker Robbie Keane has left for Liverpool and speculation continues over Dimitar Berbatov's future, but fellow forward Darren Bent has been in sparkling form in pre-season and looks set for a regular run in the side.

Boro boss Gareth Southgate enters his third season in charge at the Riverside eager to guide the Teesside outfit into the top half of the table after finishing 12th and 13th in the previous two campaigns.

The summer departures of George Boateng, Mark Schwarzer and Luke Young have left Boro short on experienced campaigners, but Southgate has never been afraid to hand the club's youngsters a chance to impress.

Team news

Southgate is hoping to complete a move for Arsenal defender Justin Hoyte ahead of the game, but should the deal not be completed in time then Rhys Williams is tipped to start at right-back ahead of Tony McMahon.

Boro have problems in midfield with Julio Arca (ankle) expected to miss out, but Gary O'Neil has recovered from a calf strain.

Mohamed Shawky and Josh Walker are waiting in the wings to step in for Arca.

Striker Mido has been undergoing one-to-one fitness sessions over the summer with conditioning coach Nick Allamby, and should partner Afonso Alves up front.

Emanuel Pogatetz is back in training after a knee problem and is hopeful of taking his place in the defence.

Tottenham full-back Alan Hutton has been ruled out of the trip to the Riverside by a foot injury, with versatile midfielder Didier Zokora expected to deputise.

Captain Ledley King is fit to start in central defence after missing the final stages of last season to recover from his ongoing knee injury.

Possible starting XIs

Middlesbrough: Turnbull, Williams, Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, Walker, Digard, O'Neil, Downing, Alves, Mido.

Spurs: Gomes, Zokora, King, Woodgate, Bale, Modric, Bentley, Jenas, Huddlestone, Berbatov, Bent.