Spurs hopes suffer double blow

Rafael Van Der Vaart
12 April 2012

Tottenham's hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout phase with a game to spare suffered a blow on Tuesday when star men Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale emerged as injury doubts for Wednesday night's clash with Werder Bremen.

Van der Vaart, who has become the club's new talisman since his summer move from Real Madrid, failed to train and went for a scan on an ankle knock while Bale, whose Champions League exploits this season have made him one of the most talked-about players on the planet, is suffering with a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday's north London derby.

Manager Harry Redknapp appeared more optimistic about the latter's chances of being fit but said of Van der Vaart: "Obviously, he'd be a big loss to us - he's been in great form."

But Redknapp pointed out the Holland international's loss would be offset by the recent return of striker Jermain Defoe from injury, adding: "Jermain Defoe's coming back as well, so that's a big bonus for us. Whether I start him or bring him off the bench, he'll play a part in the game for sure."

Van der Vaart and Bale were instrumental in Saturday's amazing comeback at the Emirates Stadium, which saw Spurs end a 17-year wait for victory at the home of their arch-rivals.

And Redknapp is hoping his side carry the euphoria from that victory into Wednesday's match.

"Knowing what it means to everybody associated with this club - the fans, the players, everybody who follows the club - to go to the Emirates and win as we did at the weekend must give us great confidence," he said.

"Hopefully, we can carry that through and really make it a springboard from here to push on for the rest of the season."

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