Depleted Tottenham hope that Christian Eriksen recovers in time for their weekend away

Tottenham hope Christian Eriksen will return to action in time for Saturday’s match at Huddersfield.

The Dane has stayed in London ahead of tonight’s Champions League meeting against APOEL due to a bug, and Spurs do not have a direct replacement.

The playmaker’s absence is a significant blow for Spurs, as he was one of their best players in the 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley two weeks ago, but the club are optimistic he will be ready for the next League match.

Tottenham can take a significant step towards the Champions League knockout stages with a win here, but they will have to deal with a raucous atmosphere and a pitch that looks worryingly bare in places.

Spurs did a light training session last night on the surface, which appears dry and pock-marked and is unlikely to encourage a passing game. With temperatures also expected to reach 30C during the day, the conditions will present a challenge for Spurs.

As well as Eriksen, Spurs are without suspended pair Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen, as well as Mousa Dembele (ankle) and Victor Wanyama (knee). With long-term absentees Danny Rose and Erik Lamela still unavailable, manager Mauricio Pochettino is missing seven key players for a vital game.

“We did well to beat Borussia Dortmund, but it is key to win here for our future in the tournament,” said the Argentine.