Returning Tottenham Star Insists He is Fit for Liverpool Clash

Tottenham Hotspur defender Vlad Chiriches is confident he will be ready to return to Andre Villas-Boas' starting XI for the visit of Liverpool.

It was feared that the Romania international would be absent until the New Year after missing last weekend's 2-1 win over Sunderland due to a heavy knock to the knee, the same knee the player required surgery on prior to his move to London in the summer.

Although Etienne Capoue filled in the for Romanian admirably at the Stadium of Light, Spurs have been keen to get Chiriches back to fitness as soon as possible, utilising the controversial PRP - or blood-spinning - method to speed up his recovery, a treatment the injured Jan Vertonghen will also receive.

And speaking to Romanian newspaper ProSport, the former Steaua Bucharest man has revealed he is back to full health and is hopeful of a return to the starting line-up against Brendan Rodgers' side on Sunday.

"I'm okay, my injury is not bad," the Spurs defender told the newspaper. "I want to play against Liverpool, I think I'll be able to do it."

Chiriches added that he will not feature against Anzhi Makhachkala on Thursday evening in a game that is expected to be a low key affair with both sides comfortably qualified as group winners and runners up respectively.

In addition to Chiriches, Andre Villas-Boas will also have Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen back for selection after the duo took part in first team training having recovered from toe and ankle injuries.

Rose, who has been absent through injury since late September, could be handed minutes in the dead rubber clash against the Russian outfit with Villas-Boas' problems at left back worsened by news that Vertonghen is ruled out until the New Year with ankle ligament damage.

The Spurs boss has also voiced his concerns over the on-going fitness problems afflicting Younes Kaboul.

"Younes was supposed to be back in training but he had a small set back- but he should be back on Tuesday for training," Villas-Boas told reporters.

"It's obviously a concern but there's nothing we can do. Our conclusion is that, given the amount of injuries he has on his knees, his body is constantly adapting to new positions and straining muscles here and there.

"We have to be patient with him, trying to build him muscle-wise and hopefully we can have him back."