Tim Sherwood's final task as Tottenham Hotspur boss could be to guide them into the Europa League with a win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

The 45-year-old is widely expected to leave the White Hart Lane dugout in the summer, having only taken over from Andre Villas-Boas in December 2013.

His entire reign has been marred by speculation over just how long he will last at a club that have had 11 managers in 18 years, and chairman Daniel Levy appears to have decided that a big-name coach is needed for next season, to lead a Tottenham squad full of international talent.

Ajax chief Frank de Boer is the current favourite to come in, and claims to have already been approached by Spurs, while Southampton's Mauricio Pochettino and Napoli's Rafael Benitez are apparently contenders.

Sherwood's final hurrah may come at White Hart Lane this weekend, where the Lillywhites host Villa knowing that a point will see them secure sixth place and continental qualification ahead of Manchester United.

However, whether Spurs would want the poison chalice of another season in the Europa League is up for debate, considering that they have won fewer than half of their 12 matches this term which have been played on the Sunday following Thursday exertion.

Villa are another team with doubts over their manager, with Paul Lambert admitting that his future with the West Midlands outfit could depend on whether owner Randy Lerner stays or sells this summer.

The Villans may have failed to do Liverpool a favour in losing 4-0 to Manchester City in midweek, but they had already made their Premier League status secure with a 3-1 victory over Hull City last Saturday.

They could finish as high as 12th in the table by winning in London, but will have to do so without top goalscorer and reported Spurs target Christian Benteke, as well as Charles N'Zogbia, Libor Kozak and Jores Okore.

Mark Albrighton and Gabriel Agbonlahor are both pushing for recalls after missing the trip to the Etihad Stadium, but Jordan Bowery is expected to retain his place as one of the forward three.

Lambert may revert to a 4-3-3 formation after operating with five at the back against City. Ciaran Clark is the most likely of the defenders to make way for the counter-attacking threat of Agbonlahor.

Younes Kaboul is unavailable for Spurs as he serves a suspension for his dismissal in the 2-0 loss to West Ham United, and so Vlad Chiriches is likely to come into the starting XI to partner Michael Dawson.

Big things will be expected of Erik Lamela and Roberto Soldado next campaign, with both having had hugely disappointing first seasons in England after joining for a combined fee of £57m.

Soldado will probably only be on the bench this Sunday as Sherwood persists with Harry Kane, while Lamela is on an injury list which includes Jan Vertonghen, Andros Townsend, Nacer Chadli and Kyle Walker.

Etienne Capoue, though, has resumed training and could be back in the Spurs squad as they chase a fifth straight victory over Villa in all competitions, a run during which they have not conceded a goal.

Recent form

Spurs: LWWDWL

Villa: LWLDLL

Possible starting lineups

Spurs: Lloris; Naughton, Dawson, Chiriches, Rose; Lennon, Paulinho, Sigurdsson, Eriksen; Kane, Adebayor

Vila: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand; El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph; Bowery, Weimann, Agbonlahor

Sports Mole says: 3-1