Berbatov an injury doubt for United trip

Tottenham striker Dimitar Berbatov could miss Saturday’s Premiership match against Manchester United due to a groin injury.

Berbatov has impressed since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but suffered an adductor strain during Bulgaria’s 2-2 Euro 2008 qualifying draw against Romania at the weekend.

The target-man has returned to Spurs Lodge after being ruled out of his country’s match against Slovenia on Wednesday but Spurs chief Martin Jol hopes he will be fit in time for the trip to Old Trafford.

“Unfortunately, Dimitar got injured in the Bulgaria match,” Jol told tottenhamhotspur.com.

“He has come back and cannot play in the next game for his country on Wednesday. He will have treatment here and will hopefully be fit for Saturday’s game against Manchester United.”

Jol and his number two Chris Hughton have issued an early warning over the strength of their UEFA Cup first round opponents Slavia Prague.

Both men travelled to Prague last weekend to watch their opponents beat bottom side Sigma Olomouc 3-0 in preparation for their first leg game in the Czech capital in 10 days.

The victory was Slavia’s third of the season in five games and although they lost the other two games, Jol and Hughton are preparing their squad for a difficult European encounter.

Jol said: “Czech football is at a high level and the national team is probably as good as the England team. It will be tough but I’m positive.

“They play in a 4-4-2 (formation), they have good strikers, one is on the fringe of the national team and the other scored a couple of goals and is a very good header of the ball.

“They have a good left winger, the captain in midfield is experienced and at the back Martin Latka who was at Birmingham last season, he looked comfortable on the ball. In short, they have a decent side who play for each other.”

One man hoping to play a major part in the club’s European campaign is England striker Jermain Defoe.

He grabbed a brace for his country in England’s 5-0 demolition of Andorra at the weekend and is hoping to retain his place in Steve McClaren’s starting line-up for their second Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia on Wednesday night.

Defoe’s double has given the striker renewed hope of breaking back into Jol’s first team plans at Spurs after finding himself on the bench in two of their opening three games.

Defoe declared: “It’s frustrating, but it’s the manager who picks the team. I played against Bolton, but that was a disappointing game.

“Hopefully, I can go back and get in the team now. It has been difficult, especially last season when there were times when I thought I would have to speak to the manager, but I suppose I’ve just got to let my football do the talking.

“Every time I train and every time I play, I’ve just got to prove that I should be in the team.”

Meanwhile, Canada international right-back Paul Stalteri insists he is looking forward to the challenge of competing for a first team place with new signing Pascal Chimbonda from Wigan.

Stalteri, who has yet to figure so far this season for Spurs due to a lack of match fitness, said: “I knew going into the season that with only one back there, they’d pick up another one. You can’t play the season with only one.

“So yes, it’s competition. But in any big club, there’s at least two guys to every position and that’s what it will be there.

“Playing in Bremen (Germany) most of my career, it was the exact same thing - two or three guys in each position. I’m used to it.”