King out of Boro clash

Tottenham Hotspur captain Ledley King will miss the Premier League match with fellow strugglers Middlesbrough on Wednesday to rest his longstanding knee injury.

Jonathan Woodgate, King’s fellow defender, will also need a late fitness test on the Achilles injury which ruled him out of the League Cup final loss to Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.

But goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is fit following a knee injury.

Cudicini, Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Frazier Campbell and Pascal Chimbonda – all ineligible for Wembley – are back in the squad but striker Jermain Defoe and full-back Alan Hutton (both foot) are injured.

Tottenham are just two points above a relegation zone but Middlesbrough are currently in the bottom three.