Poyet adds to Glenn's gloom

14 April 2012

Tottenham were today waiting to hear if their injury crisis has deepened with the latest setback to midfielder Gus Poyet.

Poyet, who will miss the first three games of the new season through suspension, was thought to have broken his wrist in the later stages of yesterday's goalless friendly with Sporting Lisbon at White Hart Lane.

Manager Glenn Hoddle is already sweating on the fitness of defenders Ledley King and Dean Richards along with new £4million striker Freddie Kanoute for next Saturday's Premiership opener at Birmingham.

Although resigned to being without Poyet for the opening three games, Hoddle fears the absence could be much longer. He said: "The latest major concern is Gus's wrist. We won't know the extent of the damage or whether it is fractured until we see the x-rays. Hopefully it will just be ligaments but it was very sore and swollen.

"He misses the first three games anyway with suspension but if it is a fracture it will put him out for a much longer period of time."

Hoddle is unlikely to have King, Richards or Kanoute at his disposal for next Saturday's game but says it won't be long before the players are back in action.

He added: "The only consolation I can take out of all this is that at this time last year, I lost four key players for two or three months. This time we are getting people back in about ten days. Most of those players will be back by then.

"Dean has started to do some jogging in the last few days and that is a concern to us because he's had no pre-season matches. Ledley will resume running today and Darren Anderton is doing just light jogging at the moment.

"Freddie should start running this week but it will be another six says before he can do any real football work."

In the meantime, Hoddle is still hoping to boost his squad with further additions. South African captain Mbulelo Mabizela made his debut for 70 minutes against Lisbon and looked classy and assured.

But Hoddle admits he is yet to make up his mind about signing him. "He's trained very well with us. He looks quite accomplished on the ball and if we take him, he has got to get used to the tempo of the Premiership which is difficult. But there is something to work with.

"We have got make a decision and once I've done that we will see where the work permit situation takes us. But he's captain of South Africa and he will be pushing for a first-team spot if we can add him to the squad. We are still trying to bring in some new faces but whether Mbulelo will be the first one, we'll see. All the terms are there with regard to Bobby Convey of DC United and we will be seeking a work permit for him."

However, Hoddle distanced himself with renewed interest in Charlton's Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky. "There is no more interest that I know of. We are being linked with all sorts of people at the moment," he said.

Spurs produced a much better performance in their final friendly against Lisbon but they still failed to find the net. They created plenty of opportunities in a bright first half with Mauricio Taricco, Jamie Redknapp, Goran Bunjevcevic and Simon Davies all going close.

However, Lisbon almost snatched victory with the last kick of the game when Beto Severo's free kick came back off the underside of the bar.

Meanwhile, Hoddle has handed Redknapp the club captaincy this season and the former Liverpool and England midfielder is delighted. Redknapp said: "It is a massive honour for me. I haven't been here that long and last year I didn't play a lot of games so for the manager to say he'd like me to be captain means he obviously thinks I'm a good example to other players and that I can do a good job."

MORE ABOUT

David Jones (Footballer)

Dean Richards

Fitness

Sporting Clube De Portugal

Tottenham Hotspur

Poyet adds to Glenn's gloom

Read More