Richards injury headache for Hoddle

Dean Richards is the latest star giving Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle an injury headache.

The centre-back was a surprise absentee from Monday’s 1-0 defeat at Bolton and the reason was eventually revealed as an old back problem again effecting the former Southampton defender.

And Hoddle admits he does not know how long Richards will be sidelined.

The player was expected to return after serving a one-match suspension for the home defeat by Liverpool last Sunday week.

But Hoddle said: “There is only an outside chance he could make our next match against Birmingham.

“The injury is still being looked at and we will have to wait and see.”

Tottenham are also still without Anthony Gardner (hamstring) and Christian Ziege (knee and thigh) at the back.

But Chris Perry is over a slipped disc problem in his neck and is on standby to take over from Richards.

Ledley King admits Tottenham’s inability to keep clean sheets has probably cost him his place in the England squad.

Centre-back King was called up for the friendly against Australia last month and impressed as a second half substitute for former Tottenham hero Sol Campbell, but he has been omitted by Sven-Goran Eriksson from the Euro 2004 qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Turkey.

Spurs have not recorded a defensive blank since they won 1-0 at Aston Villa in January – eight games ago – and King said: “That’s probably got something to do with it.

“Naturally I’m disappointed at not making the England squad this time but I’m sure club form comes into it and maybe I’ve not been at my best.

“I was disappointed for instance that a lad (Pierre-Yves Andre) got up above me in the air for a header that led to Bolton’s penalty winner against us on Monday.

“But we all know we’ve got to improve as a unit at Tottenham with our defending. We’ve got to put together a run where we are consistently keeping clean sheets.”