Poyet injury blow for Spurs

Tottenham have suffered a major blow only days before the new season with the news Gus Poyet could be missing for up to eight months.

The Uruguayan midfielder will decide whether he wants to have a cruciate ligament operation after he broke down in training yesterday.

Poyet had been on the point of returning to full training and thought that minor arthroscopic surgery, plus two weeks' recuperation, would see him back in time to face Charlton at The Valley on 27 August.

But after a full workout on Monday, Poyet's knee gave way when he stretched it yesterday. He will meet Glenn Hoddle after training today to decide what surgery option he should follow.

"I feel so badly upset and sad after being so happy on Monday and Tuesday mornings," he told Standard Sport.

"On Monday I was jumping backwards and forwards and running freely. Then yesterday I was sitting down, with ice on the knee, and as soon as I stretched, a piece of muscle went out of position which sets me back quite a bit. It appears that during the last few months I may have done cruciate ligament damage but the knee has been strong enough to support me.