However, Dr Charlotte Cowie, the club’s head of medical facilities, has reported that Kanoute is making good progress in his recovery from a hamstring problem.

The Frenchman has not featured since the New Year’s Day victory against Everton but could return to contest a place with Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane against Chelsea.

Cowie told the club’s website, www.spurs.co.uk: “Fredi is doing well and we’re hoping we’ll get him back into full training by the end of the week, so he has a reasonable chance for Saturday.”

Thimothee Atouba is still ruled out for another two weeks with a knee injury, while Sean Davis is hoping to return to training at the end of this month following knee surgery.

“Sean has started to run. He’s doing well and is basically still on the same timescale we’ve talked about all along – the end of the month,” Cowie revealed.

“He had a little setback last week but he’s making good progress now.”

Winger Simon Davies, who has been missing since mid November following a virus, could meanwhile start full training later this week.

“I’m due to see a specialist with him soon and, if we get the go-ahead, he will go back into at least some full training this week,” Cowie added.

“He’ll still need adjustments making for another few weeks but in terms of getting back into full training, he’s almost there.”

Spurs head coach Martin Jol would be delighted to have so many players back in action, although he praised youngster Mark Yeates, who made his first appearance at White Hart Lane as a substitute against Brighton last weekend.

Indeed, Jol even compared the 20-year-old’s dribbling abilities to those of Spurs legend Paul Gascoigne.

“I think he should have scored at least one goal. He has great feet. He’s looking a bit like Paul Gascoigne with all the tricks he has on the ball,” he told the Evening Standard.

“The only problem is that he is lightweight. We will put him in the gym once a week to get him a bit stronger, but he is one of the most talented players we have.”