Virus sweeps through Spurs camp to leave plans for Everton clash in tatters

26 February 2010 14:41
  [LNB]Tottenhamboss Harry Redknapp is hoping the virus sweeping through the club willnot derail their Champions League hopes like four years ago.  [LNB]Following 'several' first-team players suffering illness this week, it was decided to close the indoor facilities at the Spurs Lodge training ground for sterilisation, with Redknapp holding his pre-match media briefing at White Hart Lane ahead of Sunday's clash against Everton.   [LNB]Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios were the worst affected but could still be fit for the Barclays Premier League clash against David Moyes' men as Spurs look to maintain their top-four challenge.  [LNB] Virus: The north Londoners have been hit by a virus ahead of Sunday's game[LNB] A statement from Spurs read: 'A number of (academy) scholars andseveral first-team players have reported feeling unwell and, as aprecaution, are being kept away from the training ground for a periodof 48 hours in order to avoid the risk of spread.   [LNB]'As an additional precaution, the club has undertaken acomprehensive deep clean of the entire training ground's facilitieswhile all administrative and academy staff have been instructed to workfrom home until Monday.'[LNB] Unwell: Wilson Palacios and Vedran Corluka have both been hit by the virus[LNB]It was in 2006 when Spurs were favourites to finish fourth headinginto the final game of the season only to be hit by a norovirus, whichwas thought to have been a result of food poisoning from a lasagne.   [LNB]With Spurs now back in the top four after last Sunday's win atWigan, Redknapp feels the virus will not affect their chances ofstaying there.   [LNB]Redknapp said. 'We are going to train (at the Lodge) but everythingelse is off limits - the offices and the cafeteria. There will be nofood or anything.   [LNB]'We are just going to go in and train and then get out of there.It's a case of just get into the changing rooms, get out on the pitch,shower and get out of there. Other than that it's been closed downthere completely.  [LNB]'We had a few down with it the other day. Corluka had the virus and Palacios was not feeling great with it either.   [LNB]'It has swept through the Academy. There are about 18 who work thereor the kids who have all got it so the doctor decided we couldn't useit.  [LNB]Crocked: Spurs winger Aaron Lennon [LNB][LNB]'It hasn't disrupted us, we are still training as normal andhopefully no-one else gets it but there have been so many other peoplewho have gone down with it, including a few of the press boys who cameover on Tuesday, it is certainly spreading.'   [LNB]The last thing Redknapp needs at the moment is more fitness concernsas Aaron Lennon is out with a groin strain and has seen anotherspecialist about his problem.   Ledley King looks set to miss theEverton game with a thigh problem, while Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouchwill have slight knocks assessed.   [LNB]'Aaron has been to see a another specialist and got another opinion,' Redknapp said. [LNB]'We are just waiting really but it looks like he is going to be outfor a little while. It's disappointing because it has been a long job.  [LNB]'Hopefully he won't need surgery but if he did it should have beendone earlier on, that's the problem. The medical staff didn't feelsurgery was necessary and went down the other route but we stillhaven't got him fit yet.   [LNB]'Surgery would be the last resort but hopefully we won't need that.We hope with rest and strengthening we can get him back fit.   [LNB]'We need him back, he's important to me and is a fantastic player but he's not available so there's nothing we can do.' [LNB] Redknapp refuses to go easy on Pav, telling Spurs striker to work harderTottenham 4 Bolton 0: Pavlyuchenko's on fire as Russian rescues SpursHamstrung Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe doubtful for Everton clashTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC

Source: Daily_Mail