Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is expected to miss Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash against Sunderland, although the better news for Harry Redknapp is encouragement over Luka Modric's return to light training.
Modric has been out for two months with a fractured fibula, suffered in the win over Birmingham, and Spurs staff are cautious about setting a date for the Croatia playmaker to return to action.
The 24-year-old is still considered a long-term absentee and will certainly be out for longer than Lennon, who has been earmarked for a return from his ankle injury after the international break, making him a doubt for England's friendly against Brazil in Qatar.
Striker Jermain Defoe is available after for the Sunderland clash this weekend after serving a three-match suspension but centre-back Sebastien Bassong will miss out with a hamstring problem. Jonathan Woodgate could deputise after returning from a head injury suffered against Stoke.
"He (Woodgate) has been pretty unlucky against Stoke to take a bang," said Spurs assistant boss Joe Jordan on Sky Sports News. "He'll be back in contention."
Spurs boss Redknapp feels his team have suffered without the attacking influence of Modric, Lennon and Defoe.
"They are three of my best players," he said. "Modric is a world-class player in my opinion. Lennon is a threat when he has the ball and goes at people.
"Defoe has been in incredible form this year. Suddenly we miss him for three games. It's cost us dearly when he got sent off at Portsmouth."
Meanwhile, Spurs have announced an initial two-year official club partnership with Hong Kong club South China.
"The relationship with the Hong Kong-based football club will look to focus on football and commercial development," read a statement from Spurs. "This will include a best practice exchange programme, a shared knowledge of coaching methods and techniques as well as coach visits."
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Melliott. You don't enjoy the Toon's visits because we have won 3 out of our last 4 visits.
melliott650
You are a total bum bandit.
looking forward to playing sunderland at the weekend, it will give us the chance to run the rule over our second string team, only joking gents, i like the way your boys play, just wish we had kept steed and reid, always a good game when you come to the lane, better than your neighbours up north, you know who i mean, still think we will nick it 2 1
good news but he would have been taken care of
Can't argue it's gonna be easy C.W, they are a quality premiership team away from home, and we are missing two of the best center midfield's in the league and a decent forward(it ain't good).
Me being the realist I'am, any kind of result with these three inclusive would have been a good one, so not to have them available as just turned our mole hill into a mountain(mind not of Himalayan proportion's, but the Cheviot kind).We've got the Bent,Reid and malbranque factors on our side.Thought "Stevie the Bruce" might have considered recalling Teemu from Brum.
Here, you not wishing us to lose by any chance CW are ya??? Thats alright then, cos I get more uneasy when you tip us to win.
Tony, I surmise you've been down the Northern rock with your water-pistol, I take it.
"The pride of county Durham"since 1879
SAFC
PW
smacks of desperation that does!
Can't see anything other than a Spurs win here, by 3 clear goals.
we have our own injury and missing players to worry about, although , I was very impressed with the ability of some of the youngsters at the reserve game last night. I think the squad can cope and hopefully nick a point.
Spurs will win - FACT
That's a relief, cos we are short in midfield as well, a couple more spurs players out would make me happier though.
"The pride of the North East of England and especially Co Durham"since 1879
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