Clement says Tottenham's title credentials will be tested at Liberty Stadium
Swansea boss Paul Clement has told Tottenham their Premier League title credentials will be tested to the limit at the Liberty Stadium.
Tottenham's weekend win at Burnley, along with a rare Chelsea slip at home to Crystal Palace, has breathed new life into a title race which appeared over.
The gap now stands at seven points and Spurs hope to reduce that deficit further at relegation-threatened Swansea on Wednesday night.
Chelsea have a tough-looking home fixture against Manchester City on the same night, and Clement believes his former club will be wary of a Spurs side who have won their last four league games.
"It is different for Tottenham this year to last," Clement said.
"They were closer last year and are further away now, but Chelsea will be looking over their shoulders.
"Tottenham have players performing to their full potential and Chelsea's result (against Palace) will have given them belief they can take the title race to the end.
"This is a game where they'll be thinking, 'If we want to be champions we have to go to Swansea and win'.
"But it won't be easy for them coming here, because we really need the points as well."
Swansea are one point and one place above the relegation zone after Saturday's stalemate with Middlesbrough.
Clement admitted after the 0-0 draw that Swansea had missed the physical presence of 11-goal top scorer Fernando Llorente.
Swansea hope that Llorente's ankle injury has healed enough for him to take his place on the bench, but Jordan Ayew is set to start again as he seeks to make a greater impact than he did against Middlesbrough.
"I think we have to vary the game more," Clement said.
"When you put in a cross for someone like Llorente he can cause havoc on his own.
"With Jordan you have to get more bodies in the box to help him, and we did not really do that in the first half against Middlesbrough. I think you can still cross the ball, but the type of cross needs to be different."
Meanwhile, Spurs midfielder Harry Winks will miss the rest of the season after sustaining ligament damage to his left ankle.
Winks collided with Burnley defender Stephen Ward during Spurs' 2-0 victory at Turf Moor on Saturday and had to be carried off on a stretcher shortly before half-time.
The 21-year-old underwent a scan on Monday, with Tottenham confirming he will not play again this term.
"We can confirm that @HarryWinks sustained ligament damage to his left ankle during Saturday's win at Burnley," Tottenham said via their official Twitter account.
"@HarryWinks will continue to be monitored by our medical team during his recovery and will be unavailable for the remainder of the season."
Winks' absence will come as a blow to Tottenham, who are left relying on Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele in central midfield as they look to catch Chelsea in the title race.
Wanyama is struggling to shake off a back injury ahead of Wednesday's game and - with Winks out - it means Eric Dier may have to be pushed out of defence.
Winks is the latest academy graduate to enjoy a breakthrough season at White Hart Lane, having made 33 appearances under Mauricio Pochettino, 21 of them in the league.
His dynamism and incisive passing had put him in contention for a regular starting spot and Pochettino said on Monday the youngster can grow into one of England's finest midfielders.
"He was playing well and I'm sure in time would have been considered by Gareth Southgate," Pochettino said.
"He is a very good prospect, a player who is dynamic and aggressive. He needs time to be consistent but in time he can be one of the best midfielders for England."
Harry Kane (ankle), Danny Rose (knee) and Erik Lamela (hip) are all sidelined for the visitors but Kyle Walker is expected to return after he was rested on Saturday.
Source: PAR
