Crystal Palace defender Mamadou Sakho set to return from injury at Tottenham

Crystal Palace hope Mamadou Sakho will win his fitness race to face Tottenham on Sunday.

Sakho returned to training this week after missing last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham with a calf injury.

Having the central defender back would be a major boost for Palace as they prepare to face a Tottenham attack that ripped apart Real Madrid in the Champions League last night.

Sakho, who moved to Selhurst Park for £26million in the August transfer window, will be key to stopping Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Palace were buoyed by their 97th-minute equaliser against West Ham but they remain bottom of the Premier League — four points adrift of safety — and are targeting a result against Tottenham to give them a boost ahead of the upcoming international break.

James McArthur could also return to the Palace side following an ankle injury but Patrick van Aanholt is set for a spell out after he was forced off with a hamstring injury after just 11 minutes against West Ham.

Christian Benteke is not ready to return from his knee injury, so Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend will lead the line at Wembley on Sunday.