Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas is facing a striker dilemma for the visit of Newcastle United this weekend.

Jermain Defoe has been ruled out for three weeks with an ankle problem while Emmanuel Adebayor is still to return from the African Nations Cup despite Togo having been eliminated at the quarter final stage on Sunday.

Harry Kane is available again after being recalled from a disappointing loan spell at Norwich City, and with Newcastle, who defeated Chelsea last weekend, expected at White Hart Lane on Saturday, Villas-Boas has decisions to make over who will lead the Tottenham attack.

After leaving the field through injury against West Bromwich Albion, Defoe was replaced by Clint Dempsey in attack, with substitute Lewis Holtby filling the void behind the lone striker, an option for Tottenham this weekend.

Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe
Adebayor and Defoe could both miss the game with Newcastle United.

"We tried it the other day against West Brom," he said. "It worked fine for him.

"Then with Defoe's injury, we went to playing Lewis [Holtby] in a playmaker role behind the striker so we had great success between the two formations during the season so there is a possibility that we continue with the 4-4-2 with Gareth as a striker.

"Plus Dempsey has been playing there all of the season. We still have good options."

"It [Defoe] will be two to three weeks,"

"Defoe has small ligament damage," he added. "It's good news in the end because it could have been further damage to his ankle. We are happy with the result in the end."

Meanwhile, Adebayor, despite Togo being knocked out by Burkina Faso after extra time on Sunday, has yet to return to Tottenham training, with the club attempting to fly the 28 year old back to England in time for the weekend's resumption of the Premier League.

"We are trying to establish the best flight connections for him," Villas-Boas added.

"He had issues to take care of as the tournament finished for Togo, so at the moment we're trying to see if we can have him back either for today [Thursday] or Friday's training session.

"I spoke to him Monday morning. I know where he is, I'm not sure if I want to make it public.

"Obviously we have to take a look at him first. We don't have any news regarding injuries from him, so he's going to be selected for sure. I have to make a decision whether he will be in the starting XI or not."