Spurs boss provides updates on Defoe, Adebayor and Kaboul

By Ben Pearce, Tottenham correspondent Thursday, February 7, 2013
10:57 AM

Andre Villas-Boas expects that Jermain Defoe will be out of action for two or three weeks, and Tottenham’s head coach has revealed that Younes Kaboul will return to training on Monday.

Defoe limped out of the 1-0 victory against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday with an ankle injury, but he is due to return before the end of the month.

“Defoe has had a small ligament damage on his ankle. It’s good news in the end because it could have been further damage to his ankle, so we are happy with the result in the end,” said Villas-Boas. “We hope to see him back within two or three weeks.

“Fortunately for us it’s not a dramatic injury, so it’s a question of having the player back this month, which is not that bad.

“We play this game against Newcastle, then Lyon and then we have the whole week to prepare for Lyon. Then Defoe will be back.”

Defoe’s absence means that Emmanuel Adebayor will be the only recognised forward in the Spurs squad against Newcastle on Saturday.

The Togo international is yet to return from the Africa Cup of Nations, despite the fact that his team were eliminated on Sunday - but Villas-Boas says he has no issues with the forward’s absence and that he will be selected against the Magpies.

“Is he back yet? No, we’re trying to establish the best flight connections for him,” said the Portuguese. “He had issues to take care of as the tournament finished for Togo, so at the moment we’re trying to see if we have him back either for today or tomorrow’s training session.

“I spoke to him on Monday morning. I know where he is, I’m not sure if I want to make it public.

“I don’t think it’s strange. We’ve allowed the players two days off. The players come back today for 3pm training. A couple of them - Dempsey and Assou-Ekotto - come back for 3pm tomorrow.

“We’ve allowed Ade to come back for Friday’s training session if he can’t make it for today’s.

“Will he be rushed back into this weekend’s game? Yes probably. Obviously we have to take a look but we don’t have any news regarding injuries from him, so he’s going to be selected. I haven’t made a decision if he’s going to be in the starting 11, but he’ll be selected for sure.”

Meanwhile, Kaboul has not played since Spurs’ last clash against Newcastle on the opening day of the season due to a knee injury – but he is now closing in on his long-awaited return.

“He’s going to rejoin training hopefully next Monday for the first time - but it’s going to be his first training session since August so we have to be very careful,” said Villas-Boas.

“When might he play again? It’s very difficult. Obviously we have to consider that he has to catch up, but I think with the tremendous willingness that he has to come back to playing, hopefully within two to three weeks, but it’s very unsure.”

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