Mikel faces Spurs acid test

Golden boy of Nigerian football, John Obi Mikel, will make a return back to Chelsea’s line up as the west London club battles joint leaders, Tottenham, on Saturday at White Hart Lane.
Mikel, who scored a late minute goal for the Stamford Bridge side in their 2-0 win over Fulham, looks set to cement his starting place in Jose Mourinho’s squad.
The 26-year-old scored his first League goal after 185 matches for the Blues in the 84th minute when he slotted a right-footed shot past David Stockdale.
Meanwhile, the White Hart Lane club have a wretched record against their Stamford Bridge counterparts, having posted only three wins in their 42 previous meetings since the division’s inception in 1992.
They have failed to beat Chelsea in their last six top-flight encounters, with their last victory coming courtesy of goals from Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale in a 2-1 home success in April 2010.
Spurs Manager, Andre Villas-Boas, who also worked under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea during his compatriot’s first spell at Stamford Bridge between 2004 and 2007 – has played down talk of a title challenge.
“What is happening to us now puts us in a positive mood … but it can change very, very quickly,” said the Portuguese.
“At the moment we are on a good run, but there are no clubs on maximum points and this year will be very tight at the top.”