Spurs captain King ready to return to action

ENGLAND defender Ledley King is on the brink of a return to action, according to Tottenham coach Martin Jol.

The club have three friendlies lined-up during a training camp in France and Jol insists King has a great chance of playing in them.

King has been a regular visitor to Spurs Lodge over the summer and is almost back to full fitness after fracturing a metatarsal against Everton in April. That injury ruled him out of the crucial final four matches of the Premiership campaign and England’s World Cup squad.

But King is now running and playing a full part in pre-season — prompting coach Jol to say:

“Ledley has done everything. We haven’t taken a risk with him in the matches during the training sessions but he’s done all the running work and ball work.

“I think he has a chance of playing 90 minutes out in France,” he said.

Spurs face Bordeaux on July 13, Nice the following evening and Celta Vigo four days later at the Stade Municipal d’Annecy.

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Alan Pardew has confirmed he is not in the hunt for another right-back after completing the signing of Tyrone Mears from Preston.

Pardew retains high hopes of the 23-year-old developing into an international defender.

West Ham negotiated an initial payment of £1m with Preston but there is an extra £250,000 riding on Mears winning his first England cap while at Upton Park.

“We have inserted a clause in his deal that covers an international call-up with England, because that is the level of potential we believe he has,” said Pardew.

“The ball is in his court now, he has got to produce and I believe he will. I’m not looking for another right-back —

Tyrone will get the chance to make the position his own, but he knows that he will face stiff competition from Jonathan Spector and Christian Dailly.”

Pardew helped the likes of club captain Nigel Reo-Coker and centre-back Danny Gabbidon make a successful transition from Coca-Cola Championship football to Premiership football last season.