Kaboul left behind as Spurs out to make vital point

YOUNES KABOUL’S future at Tottenham appears less certain after he stayed at home for the UEFA Cup clash against Anderlecht in Belgium, despite a shortage of defenders for Juande Ramos.

Kaboul arrived from Auxerre this summer in a deal valued upwards of £8million (€11.1m) but has looked shaky at centre-back, and he has made costly errors in his last two appearances.

Head coach Ramos has centre-backs Ledley King, Ricardo Rocha and Anthony Gardner on the sidelines but will field a makeshift defence at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium today rather than include Kaboul for a match where a draw will confirm Spurs’ place in the knockout stages.

Ramos insisted the decision was made so he could utilise his squad and he also confirmed the club would not be looking to send the France U-21 defender on loan next month.

“We are very satisfied and happy he is with us,” said Ramos. “We have a squad and we have to try and let allof the players play and feel important.

“I don’t think Kaboul is depressed. He is a young lad who is very focused and with lots of desire. I am convinced he is looking forward to playing again and he has the quality to do so.”

Left-back Gareth Bale has also been ruled out with his foot injury, weakening a defence with the third worst record in the Premier League.

Even a heavy defeat against Anderlecht will not knock Spurs out of the competition as results elsewhere in the final games of Group G can keep them alive.

Although a draw is enough, Ramos is refusing to play for anything other than a win.

“I always set out to win every game, independent of the opposition or the competition,” he said.

“The best form of defence is attack, that is the philosophy we are trying to implement and, hopefully, we will do it against Anderlecht tonight.”