Santini fear as Atouba is carried off

Jacques Santini fears the worst over the knee injury suffered by Thimothee Atouba in last night's 1-0 defeat at Portsmouth.

The Cameroon midfielder will today undergo tests on suspected ligament damage which could mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Atouba went down in agony following a second-half collision with Lomana Lua Lua and was carried off on a stretcher.

Although the injury initially looked severe, the 22-year-old did not require hospital treatment and travelled back on the team bus. Santini said: "It was a bad injury, I think his knee is badly damaged. He could be out for a long time."

With Erik Edman missing through concussion, Santini is now struggling for left-sided players going into Saturday's home game with Bolton.

Atouba's injury was the culmination of a disappointing night for the Spurs head coach. who watched his side surrender their unbeaten away record to Yakubu's 63rd-minute header.