A wildly inconsistent Tottenham Hotspur endeavour to end a two-game losing run when they host West Ham United in Sunday’s Premier League London derby.

After refusing to blame Tottenham’s key absences for their 1-0 UEFA Champions League (UCL) loss away to AC Milan during the week, manager Antonio Conte rejoined the list himself. The boss will remain home in Italy indefinitely to recover from gallbladder surgery whilst the team prepares for successive Premier League (PL) home London derbies. The squad should be in good hands under assistant Cristian Stellini, who took charge of their recent PL win against Manchester City during Conte’s initial absence.

Starting this round two points behind fourth-placed Newcastle whilst having played one extra PL match, Spurs certainly cannot afford a repeat of the draws they incurred against their next two opponents – West Ham United and Chelsea – during the seven-game unbeaten period (W5, D2) that opened their PL season.

Yet, having won all five home PL games against clubs 12th or lower going into the round by an aggregate score of 17-6, Spurs’ case for victory here is strong.

The Lilywhites fell to a 1-0 defeat in their Champions League last-16 first leg with AC Milan in midweek, while David Moyes’s men most recently held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw.

Antonio Conte’s brief return to the touchline from gallbladder surgery has been a wholly miserable affair for the Italian, who has since admitted to “underestimating” the procedure as he continues his recovery in his homeland for the time being.

Having retaken the reins from stand-in success Cristian Stellini, Conte oversaw a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Leicester City before Brahim Diaz’s seventh-minute goal propelled Milan to victory in their European knockout tie, further denting Spurs’ hopes of finally snapping their 15-year trophyless streak.

Despite being taught a footballing lesson by the Foxes last weekend, fifth-placed Tottenham – who will be led by Stellini for the third time this season on Sunday – could end the weekend in the Champions League places with a win if Newcastle United also suffer defeat to Liverpool on Saturday evening.

Losing just once in their seven contests since the turn of the year can no doubt be viewed in a positive light for the Hammers, but one win in their last 10 Premier League matches cannot, and Moyes’s side are without victory in their last nine top-flight away games since overcoming Aston Villa in August.

Tottenham were held to a 1-1 draw by West Ham in the early weeks of the season, while on their own turf, Conte’s side posted a pair of 2-1 and 3-1 wins in the EFL Cup and Premier League respectively last season, but it remains to be seen if Stellini’s powers will start to show any signs of waning.

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

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Tottenham Hotspur form (all competitions):

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West Ham United Premier League form:

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West Ham United form (all competitions):

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Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Forster; Romero, Dier, Davies; Emerson, Sarr, Hojbjerg, Perisic; Richarlison, Kane, Son

West Ham United possible starting lineup:

Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Coufal, Rice, Soucek, Emerson; Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma

Only the bravest souls can confidently predict the outcome of a Tottenham game this season, but Stellini has effectively galvanized his troops in the past and can call upon several attacking options – albeit struggling ones – to take advantage of West Ham’s defensive injury crisis.

Moyes’s resilient crop can be expected to threaten themselves while Spurs work around the absences of key men, but the Hammers’ form on the road is nothing short of abysmal, and we have faith in Tottenham to return to winning ways by a slender margin.

Players to watch: He may have struggled for goals this season, but Son Heung-min has historically excelled in this fixture racking up three goals across his last two personal home PL H2Hs. Curiously, Michail Antonio has scored in each of West Ham’s last two competitive outings in which injured teammate Lucas Paquetá did not take to the pitch!