Niko Kranjcar has returned to Tottenham Hotspur's starting lineup to face Shamrock Rovers following two months absence with a thigh injury.

Harry Redknapp has opted for Jermain Defoe to lead the line for the North London side in their final Group A Europa League clash at the Tallaght Stadium in Ireland.

Giovani Dos Santos makes the starting XI as expected, with Danny Rose, Steven Pienaar and Sandro all involved in Redknapp's first team this evening.

The Premier League side have left the likes of Luka Modric, Emmanuel Adebayor and Scott Parker at White Hart Lane, while Younes Kaboul and Benoit Assou-Ekotto remain the only two players who started in Spurs' 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the weekend.

Tottenham, who have an almost impossible chance of reaching the final 32 of the European competition, need a victory over the Hoops as well as a five-goal difference, and the hope that PAOK defeat Rubin Kazan.

Tottenham starting XI: Cudicini; Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Livermore, Rose; Townsend, Kranjcar, Sandro, Pienaar; Giovani; Defoe

Shamrock starting XI: Thompson; Sullivan, Oman, Murray, Stevens; Rice, Turner, Finn, Dennehy; Paterson, Sheppard