Defoe out for 3 weeks?

Jermain Defoe has been ruled out for three weeks.

While, press reports on Friday suggested the returning striker may have broken a metatarsal in training, potentially ruling him out for the rest of the season, it is now understood those reports were inaccurate and he is likely to only be sidelined with a foot injury for three weeks.

Better news, but still a bad blow. This couldn’t have come at a worst time, we desperatly need points (therefore goals obviously). Quite simply unless we make a signing before the end of the transfer window we’re going to have to rely on Darren Bent (best we make a signing).

On top of this Sky Sports News have reportedthat Portsmouth are in talks with Tottenham over a £7million deal for Giovani dos Santos.  Surely, Spurs need him now more than ever despite the f act that he hasn’t found form or fitness since arriving from Barcelona last summer. Having said that are Portmsouth really likely to splash out £7mln on an unproven talent who only cost £4mln last year? Most likely a rubbish rumour.

Breaking news: Defoe out for the season after breaking his foot in training

A Spurs source said : “This is a huge blow”

You don’t say. Back to the same problem we had before his arrival – a lack of fire power. Where are the goals going to come from? The incentive to sign Keane is surely going be huge now. But at what cost , will Harry have to part with Lennon or Jenas.

If so is it worth it? We’ve just said the midfield is crammed, but now we have no one who can really make a difference up front.

Spurs news update

So Palacios could have gone to Arsenal but Wegner thought the midfield would be overcrowded – a situation not too disimiliar to Spurs who now have, Modric, Jenas, Zokora, Huddlestone, Bentley, Lennon and Palacios competing for first team places. (And thats not to mention Jamie O’Hara, who rightly deserves a place for his commitment and bite).

The fact that Wegner shifted Palacios to B’ham suggests that the midfielder will have a point to prove to the Frenchmen. And with the north London coming up in February there could be no better stage on which to prove his worth and show Wegner that he made the wrong decision when he let him go.

The incentive for Palacios to prove a point and the strong competion for a first 11 position in midfield both bode well for Spurs and will hopefully be the catalyst needed to bring home some points.

Spurs News

Former Tottenham director of football Damien Comolli has accused Dimitar Berbatov of going on strike before his move to Manchester United. (Sky Sports)

The Official Site reports that Adel Taarabt admits he’s had to change his game as he looks to build on a couple of impressive cameo performances of late.

Meanwhile, Wilson Palacios has revealed he could have been playing for Arsenal this season and is determined to prove Arsene Wenger wrong when he makes his debut for arch rivals Tottenham against Bolton on Saturday.

Jamie Redknapp’s views on the Keane affair

An interview in today’s Metro highlights why any club looking for a striker would be interested in pursuing Keane and perhaps why a Spurs return would suit him.  

In a question on Keane at Liverpool, Redknapp Jnr. said:

“You don’t treat people like that, especially £20mln player. I thought he’d be a great signing. I played with him at Tottenham and he is a quality player. but he is a confidence player and he needs and arm round his shoulder and someone telling him how good he is. That’s man-management.”

A cheeky nod to Redknapp senior who is known for his man-management skills and his ability to inject players with confidence and drive.

Spurs update

Charlton are set to make a bid for Tottenham defender Chris Gunter who has been told he can go out on loan until the end of the season.

Gunter, 19, has failed to establish a regular first-team place following his £2m move from Cardiff twelve months ago.

Despite Gunter looking reasonably solid and composed in the performances he has put in, with the return of Chimbonda, this is probably a good decision; it will provide the young player with some great experience because Charlton are fighting for thier lives at the moment and they need all the help they can get.

Spurs: Tapping-up contd.

Todays Sun reports:

“Furious Liverpool are reporting Spurs because they feel they have tried to tap up Robbie Keane.  Anfield chief executive Rick Parry is writing a letter to the Premier League to complain about Tottenham’s conduct. Parry is fuming after Harry Redknapp went public with his admiration for the Republic of Ireland striker.” (The Sun)

Rafa has resigned Keane to the bench and at times, as with the Everton game, not even included him in the squad. Surely, this would attrack the attention of any club looking for a top-class striker?

Perhaps Rick Parry and Rafa are just feeling the strain as they face reality and accept that once again they’ve thrown the league and handed it to rivals Manchester United.  Interestingly, it was just after Rafa’s infamous Fergie rant that Liverpool’s form started to slip – maybe Rick Parry should consider the conduct of his own staff before looking at Harry?

And, while I’m sure Keane hopes to play a bigger role at Liverpool in the future, the fact that he is not playing  threatens his place in the Republic side, despite being top scorer for his home country, which would suggest that the whole saga isn’t entirely one-sided.

Is Robbie Keane on his way back?

Following the tapping-up discussion earlier it appears Harry may be up to some asTottenham make informal enquiry about former star.

A Sky Sports News source understand Tottenham have enquired about Robbie Keane’s availability at Liverpool.

Benitez has refuses to to confirm the Ireland striker’s future at Anfield and only gave him a late run-out in Wednesday’s draw with Wigan.

Meanwhile, Harry Redknapp is in the market for a new striker and he has never hidden his admiration for Keane.

Spurs News

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is planning on making a bid for Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone,22, after selling Jimmy Bullard to Hull in a £5m deal.

It is thought Huddlestone could be prised away for as little £3m after the midfielder has slipped down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

The arrival of Wilson Palacios, coupled with the form of Luka Modric, Jamie O’Hara and Didier Zakora means Harry Redknapp could be willing to let Huddlestone go.

Selling Huddlestone would certainly help with the 3-5-2 formation problem discussed earlier today. But if Jimmy Bullard went to Hull for £5mln surely Huddlestone is worth more than £3mln?

Huddlestone is a talented player with great passing range and vision – something not many Tottenham players have.  However, he is a soft tackler, slow and at times too laid back.

Spurs youngsters

The Tottenham Hotspur Academy squad look to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious Copa Chivas Comex tournament in Mexcio later today.

The youngsters only need a point from their final group game against Mexican side Cruz Azul to guarantee their progress.