Source: Telegraph
Jonathan Woodgate close to Spurs return
Woodgate has not played since the penultimate game of last season, with a groin problem, but made his playing comeback for Spurs during a private friendly.
The former England defender, 29, is keen to put his injury problems behind him but manager Harry Redknapp may be reluctant to rush him back for Saturday’s trip to Portsmouth.
Luka Modric, who broke a bone in his leg against Birmingham in August, is close to a return while Michael Dawson and Gareth Bale, who both missed the opening five weeks of the season, are both fit again and available for the trip to Fratton Park.
Redknapp is also hoping that Ledley King, absent for the last three games with a calf tear, will be available, while Roman Pavlyuchenko, while seemingly out of favour at White Hart Lane, could also be close to being available.
Portsmouth will be keen to find their first home points of the season, having won at Wolves in their last outing, but they will be unable to field Jamie O’Hara.
The midfielder joined Portsmouth from Spurs in the transfer window, on loan until January, and under the terms of Premier League loans cannot face the club that own him.
