Jol hails squad depth

12 April 2012

Tottenham manager Martin Jol believes his squad is strong enough to cope with a string of injuries suffered ahead of Sunday's clash with Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Aside from Michael Dawson, Jol rested all his first-team players for the midweek Carling Cup win over Port Vale, but defender Pascal Chimbonda will not return this weekend after picking up medial ligament damage.

Striker Mido has a cyst on his knee, while injuries to Calum Davenport and Anthony Gardner mean Ledley King and Dawson are the only out-and-out centre-backs available. Steed Malbranque and Hossam Ghaly are expected to overcome respective slight groin and hamstring problems, but the strength of Jol's squad is being tested by a congested fixture list.

His players have responded well so far, qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup and standing on the brink of progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup.

"I think we are better than ever, we're better than before because we have more options," Jol said. "Last year we probably couldn't play with a totally different team in the Carling Cup, and we didn't do that.

"We've played twice now with a totally different team - it's always in hindsight because if you lose you say you can't play two teams.

"But after the matches against MK Dons and Port Vale you could say that I was right. I trust my players."

Didier Zokora has recently returned from a bout of malaria and he impressed in last week's win over Premiership champions Chelsea, with Spurs fans hailing the Ivory Coast midfielder at the final whistle.

The 25-year-old was criticised for winning a penalty against Portsmouth when Pedro Mendes was harshly judged to have fouled him, but Jol is pleased with how his player is adapting to the Premiership.

Jol said: "I see him every day in training, he's always 100%. In France they call him 'The Maestro'. He's ambitious and wants to do well, he has got a good character, especially after his malaria, which was a strange one."

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