AFC Bournemouth vs Tottenham Hotspur team news with 4 doubts and 9 outs of tricky trip south

Tottenham Hotspur hit the road once again this week as Ange Postecoglou takes his side to the south coast with a tough-to-beat AFC Bournemouth ready to play hosts under the floodlights of the Vitality Stadium.

The Cherries have got the better of Arsenal and Manchester City at their home ground in October and November and will be buoyed by putting four past Wolves on their travels last weekend.

Both managers will no doubt be eyeing rotation with another round of fixtures this weekend and a busy festive fixture schedule ahead. Here's your early team news.

AFC Bournemouth team news

Midfielder Lewis Cook has been a mainstay in the AFC Bournemouth midfield this season but missed out for the first time this term against Wolves last time out. Andre Iraola confirmed that was as a precaution with the player nursing a small muscle injury.

Julian Zuniga has missed the last two with a hamstring injury and is expected to be absent against Tottenham Hotspur with no return date known on his problem. Luis Sinisterra is another with a hamstring problem, which is a recurring issue and therefore the winger is not being rushed back into action.

Alex Scott will also miss out. The former Bristol City man underwent surgery on his knee in October and is on the path to recovery, but isn't expected back in first team future imminently.

Doubts - Lewis Cook. Outs - Julian Zuniga, Luis Sinisterra, Alex Scott.

Tottenham Hotspur team news

It's a more complicated situation on the injury front for Ange Postecoglou. Fraser Forster is set to continue in between the sticks with Vicario out for months due to an ankle injury.

In defence, Micky Van de Ven continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury and could be back in first team action later this month, but the trip to the Vitality Stadium will come too soon. Cristian Romero has missed the last two with a foot injury but is close to a return.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's draw against Fulham, Postecoglou said: “Romero is closer but probably unlikely. I'm not ruling him out. He's got to get through a few things today, and then there's a session tomorrow.”

In midfield, Archie Gray picked up a dead leg on Sunday but could be in the squad against AFC Bournemouth. Wilson Odobert is set to miss out again with a hamstring injury while Mikey Moore will need a little longer to recover from an illness. Rodrigo Bentancur remains suspended by the FA.

Up front, Brazil international Richarlison isn't expected back from a hamstring injury until the New Year. Dominic Solanke was absent against Fulham because of illness, but there's hope he'll be fit again to face his former side on Thursday.

Postecoglou said ahead of Fulham: "He came in today and he wasn't looking the best, just under the weather. So we just sent him home. Hopefully a full recovery now ahead of the next one."

Doubts - Cristian Romero, Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray. Outs - Micky Van de Ven, Vicario, Wilson Odobert, Mikey Moore, Richarlison, Rodrigo Bentancur.