Spurs blow as Defoe sidelined

Tottenham face being without striker Jermain Defoe for the rest of the season with a suspected broken bone in his foot suffered in training, The Times newspaper reported on Saturday.

A Tottenham spokesman had overnight confirmed Defoe was receiving treatment for a foot injury suffered Thursday- but it was initially thought the forward, brought back to White Hart Lane earlier this month from Portsmouth, might only be out for a month.

Instead, The Times said the metatarsal injury apeared more serious than that and the news will now fuel speculation that the Londoners, who have spent much of the season in a drop zone over which they now have just a three-point cushion, may seek to prise Robbie Keane back from Liverpool.

Irishman Keane has failed to hold down a regular place at Anfield since his summer move from Spurs for 20 million pounds and he was left out of Benitez’s squad for the FA Cup clash with Everton last Sunday.