Source: PA
Injury worries for Redknapp
William Gallas and Gareth Bale are both running out of time to prove their fitness ahead of Tottenham's Champions League showdown against Real Madrid.
Tottenham are in the midst of an injury crisis at the back, with Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong their only two fit central defenders for the match at Wigan, and they both could miss Tuesday's clash in Spain. Gallas, who has been a rock at the heart of the Spurs defence this year, had looked set to play against Real after being given the all-clear from a hamstring problem two weeks ago, but a previous knee injury flared up again this week, casting serious doubt over his participation in Tuesday's quarter-final first leg.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp revealed the severity of the Frenchman's injury, saying: "He is struggling. I couldn't be sure (if he will be fit for Madrid). At the moment, he can't kick a ball.
"His knee is sore. He has had two scans this week. The first scan he had didn't look too bad and he went out training but didn't feel good. He had another scan and went out this morning (Friday) and did some running but when he went to strike the ball he had problems."
Another of Spurs' key players, winger Bale, picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty last week, and has not trained with the first team since. The 21-year-old, who almost single-handedly tore Inter Milan apart over two scintillating Group A games earlier this year, has been restricted to training with Spurs' fitness coaches, and is out of the match at the DW Stadium.
"We will have to see if he will be available for Real," Redknapp said. "His hamstring is still a little bit tight. You never know with hamstrings. Until he pushes it you can't be sure. He is getting over it. He's getting out there, doing lots of work with the fitness coaches but he hasn't joined in with us. He's and working at 80% probably. When you run as quick as he does you are going to pick up injuries like that. A lot of very quick players have hamstring problems over the years."
