Jol: Mido risking Tottenham future

Tottenham boss Martin Jol has warned Mido he risks missing out on a permanent deal at White Hart Lane if he comes back from the African Nations Cup out of shape or out of form.

Mido, on loan at Tottenham from Roma until the end of the season, has indicated recently he would like to stay in north London on a long-term basis.

Jol will not wait until the summer to decide so has challenged Mido to make an incontrovertible case over the coming months.

“If we wait until the summer it will be a bit late. I have told him, if you score 15 goals we will be satisfied. He is on his way, he has scored seven,” said Jol.

“If he comes back from the African Cup and is injured or as he was last year, there is no chance of us signing him permanently.

“But if he is like he is now, there is every chance.”

Jol will hold talks with Egyptian national manager Hassan Shehata tomorrow to finalise an agreement over Mido’s participation in the African tournament.

The Christmas Eve negotiations are aimed at persuading Shehata to let Mido stay with Tottenham for an extra nine days in January, ensuring the striker is available for the Barclays Premiership games against Manchester City and Liverpool either side of the FA Cup tie at Leicester.

The African Nations Cup, which is being held in Egypt, does not start until January 20 but Mido is currently due to link up with his international team-mates on January 5.

Jol said: “The Egyptian manager is arriving and we will talk with him about the situation. Normally, you have to let him go on January 5 but we want to let him go on the 14th.”

Tottenham face losing Mido for six matches if Egypt, who are chasing a fifth title, reach the final. And they are not the only side who face losing key players in January and February.

Chelsea have requested that Michael Essien commutes between west London and Egypt. Nigeria have held talks with West Brom, Everton and Bolton regarding their players, while Middlesbrough’s Yakubu has already pulled out.

Tottenham had hoped to fly Mido back for certain games. The Egyptian football authorities rejected that request but Mido is confident a compromise will be reached.

Jermain Defoe is a major doubt for Tottenham’s Boxing Day clash with Birmingham after suffering ankle ligament damage against Middlesbrough.

Defoe will have a late fitness test, but Andy Reid is definitely out and will be sidelined for a month with knee ligament problems.

Teemu Tainio (knee) will not be ready but both Wayne Routledge and Aaron Lennon are back in training and in contention for a start in midfield.