Filed under: Tottenham, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has never been shy of bemoaning his lack of bodies at any club he has been. In fact sweeps have been known to be run on at what point and how often he utters the phrase - or an equivalent of - "we're down to the bare bones". Now he is in charge of a team in the top four of the Premier League and with one foot in the Champions League quarter finals, it might be considered a bit, well, rich for him to complain about the amount of injuries he has to put up with.
After all, he is so overrun with talent that he can afford to send the likes of Jamie O'Hara and Kyle Walker on loan to no discernible detriment of the squad.
But as Redknapp counts heads on their warm weather training camp in Dubai, he does have a point, because there are up to half a dozen players missing from the side.
The latest setback concerns Jermain Defoe, who broke down during a training session at the camp. Initial fears were that he had re-damaged ankle ligaments that kept him out for eight weeks earlier in the campaign.
He joins Tom Huddlestone, Younes Kaboul, Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate, Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart on the sidelines - and as Redknapp puts it, it would be "a fantastic team" if they were all fit.
As things stand, Spurs have 12 matches remaining, but if they manage to avoid defeat in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie against AC Milan, that will of course increase by at least two.
Defoe's injury was later found to be bruising, but he is likely to miss the AC Milan match and could be out of the following fixture against former club West Ham.
FanHouse UK Picture Galleries: WAGS: Do They Still Matter? | CHEEKY: Things Sport Fans Write
AGELESS: When They Were Young | WTA: Players To Watch | KITS: Best Of The Lot | KITS: And The Worst
AGELESS: When They Were Young | WTA: Players To Watch | KITS: Best Of The Lot | KITS: And The Worst
Redknapp added his team's ambitions have not changed, but said: "We're trying to finish in the top four and it's so close. But we've got so many players injured, people forget."
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Mikhail Youzhny Miroslav Klose Nemanja Vidic Nery Castillo Nick Watney
No comments:
Post a Comment