Spurs strikers ready to return

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Tottenham manager George Graham was today given a massive boost with the return to fitness of strikers Les Ferdinand and Steffen Iversen.

Both players will be named in the squad for Saturday's FA Cup fifth round tie against Stockport County at White Hart Lane after coming through the later stages of a reserve match against Wimbledon last night.

Ferdinand, who had been out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, hit the third goal in a comfortable 3-0 win.

Norwegian international Iversen had been unavailable since October following two knee operations.

Ferdinand was given the all-clear to take part in the reserve clash when a scan taken earlier in the day revealed his injury had virtually healed.

The striker persuaded the club to include him in the side and both players came on for the final 20 minutes of last night's game.

Ferdinand said: "When I first suffered the injury, they said I would be out for between four to six weeks and even the doctor said they were being a bit conservative with that.

"But it has responded well to treatment. So the next thing was to try and get 20 minutes on the pitch against Wimbledon.

"Happily, I suffered no reaction. We have got a big game on Saturday and I would love to get to the final.

"I thought my dream of playing in it might have been over when we were two down against Charlton, but it was a great turnaround by the lads and the win gave the whole club a lift."

Iversen is hoping to be named in Saturday's squad, but faces an anxious wait to see if any soreness develops in his knee over the next few days.

Iversen said: "It still feels as though my hip and back are not as they should be, but every time I come back I have the same problem.

"I should be fine over the next couple of days. It is just nice to be back playing again, even if I do feel a bit heavy.

"I want to be in the squad for Saturday and if there is no reaction, there is a possibility that I will be on the bench.

"It is always important to get back and my knee felt a little stiff but really good.

"In the last few weeks I have been doing a lot of running and it is a big bonus for me to be back so early.

"I have felt nothing in the knee since the second operation."

Full-back Stephen Carr, striker Chris Armstrong and midfielder Stephen Clemence were pulled out of last night's game at St Albans's Clarence Park in readiness for Saturday's cup tie.

But Spurs were still far too strong for Wimbledon and, after a goalless first half, Willem Korsten put Spurs ahead from the penalty spot.

Moments later Matthew Etherington's cross was buried by the onrushing Ian Hillier and Ferdinand capped his return with a fine volley in the closing moments of the match.

The news of Ferdinand and Iversen's pending return will give Graham some consolation for losing centre back Chris Perry for two weeks because of a gashed shin.

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