SOCCER:TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR will welcome their leading scorers Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale back to their starting line-up for tomorrow's tie against Milan, though their Italian opponents are more wary of the considerable threat posed by Peter Crouch at White Hart Lane.

The England forward got the only goal at San Siro and unnerved the Serie A leaders to the extent that Thiago Silva, the Rossoneri’s Brazilian centrehalf, has claimed Crouch is “the strongest player I have marked in the Champions League”.

Those sentiments are shared by Robinho, previously at Manchester City, even if he retains hope Spurs’ 1-0 advantage from the first leg can be overturned.

“Tottenham play in a different way, focusing on physical strength, plenty of crosses into the box – especially because they have a very tall player in Peter Crouch,” said Robinho. “I think they will play exactly the same way again but I honestly believe we can win in England. We will have to change our attitude and be even more focused. I played in England for a year and a half and I know how English teams play – very well.”

The return of Bale and Van der Vaart after back and calf problems respectively provides Tottenham with a timely fillip just as their league form appears to be stuttering after a defeat at Blackpool and a high-scoring draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Bale, who came on as a substitute at Molineux, has contributed 11 goals this season and has been sorely missed over the last six weeks. Van der Vaart has 12 goals in his first season in England but has not featured since the first leg at Milan on February 15th.

“We’ve got enough to hurt Milan at home,” Harry Redknapp said. “We’ll play Lennon and probably Bale and have a go. Gareth carries the game at the opposition and that makes a massive difference. And Van der Vaart has a good chance for Wednesday, I hope he will be fit.”

The Spurs manager will still be without Vedran Corluka, who suffered a sprained ankle in a challenge by Mathieu Flamini at San Siro, and he has warned the former Arsenal midfielder that the home support will remember that foul. “He probably will get a bad reception, yes,” Redknapp said.

Redknapp will not try to merely hold onto the 1-0 first leg advantage his side achieved in the San Siro. The return of Van der Vaart and Bale will only add to his firepower.

Redknapp said: “We will play an attacking team. We’ll play (Aaron) Lennon and probably Gareth Bale and have a go.”

Redknapp is also hoping Jermain Defoe will now finish the season with a flourish after scoring his first and second Premier League goals of the campaign at Molineux.

The England striker has had a stop-start season through injury but looked sharp.