Defoe injury blow for Tottenham

Posted Thursday, April 04, 2013 by Supersport.com

Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe will miss up to three matches with a muscle injury, his manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Wednesday.

The England forward will sit out Thursday's Europa League quarterfinal first leg at home to Basle and Sunday's Premier League clash with Everton and could also miss the return match with the Swiss side next week.

"Jermain has a muscle injury which is probably going to take him out of the next two games definitely and maybe Basle away," Villas-Boas told reporters.

"If he can't make Basle away he should be fit for Man City.

"It's a big blow. It's on the same muscle that he had a small tear last month. It's on the other side now and it's a big miss as he represents a lot for us and he will be a big miss."

Defoe, who scored twice in England's 8-0 win over San Marino last month, came on for the final half an hour of Tottenham's 2-1 win over Swansea City on Saturday.

His absence is significant for the London club who are not well-endowed with strikers. Emmanuel Adebayor is their only other recognised centre forward.

They are involved in a three-way battle with Arsenal and Chelsea for the final two Champions League qualification places and can ill afford a slip up at home to sixth place Everton.

Tottenham are third in the table on 57 points, Chelsea are fourth on 55 and Arsenal have 53.