Spurs hopes suffer double blow

Tottenham’s hopes of sealing qualification for the Champions League knockout phase with a game to spare suffered a blow today when star men Rafael van der Vaart and Gareth Bale emerged as injury doubts for tomorrow’s clash with Werder Bremen.

Van der Vaart, who has become the club’s new talisman since his summer move from Real Madrid, failed to train this morning and went for a scan on an ankle knock.

Fellow midfielder Bale, whose Champions League exploits this season have made him one of the most talked-about players on the planet, is suffering with a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday’s north London derby.

Manager Harry Redknapp appeared more optimistic this afternoon about the latter’s chances of being fit but admitted Van der Vaart was “struggling”.

“Obviously, he’d be a big loss to us – he’s been in great form,” said Redknapp, before pointing out the Holland international’s loss would be offset by the recent return of striker Jermain Defoe from injury.

“Jermain Defoe’s coming back as well, so that’s a big bonus for us.

“Whether I start him or bring him off the bench tomorrow, he’ll play a part in the game for sure.”

Van der Vaart and Bale were instrumental in Saturday’s amazing comeback at the Emirates Stadium, which saw Spurs end a 17-year wait for victory at the home of their arch-rivals.

And Redknapp is hoping his side carry the euphoria from that victory into tomorrow night’s match.

“Knowing what it means to everybody associated with this club – the fans, the players, everybody who follows the club – to go to the Emirates and win as we did at the weekend must give us great confidence,” he said.

“Hopefully, we can carry that through tomorrow night and really make it a springboard from here to push on for the rest of the season.”

Tomorrow sees Tottenham play the penultimate match of what has been a rollercoaster of a Group A campaign.

Victory would ensure they would go into their final game at FC Twente already qualified, which would be no mean feat in what has been their maiden season in the Champions League.

Reiterating it was still “all to play for” in the group, Redknapp said: “It would be a great achievement.

“I thought it was a tough draw: Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, Twente – good sides.

“One or two of the groups, you look at them and there are a few games that are almost ’gimme’ games. But, in this group, it was always going to be difficult.”

On paper tomorrow’s game has become arguably the easiest of the group, with Bremen arriving at White Hart Lane in miserable form.

Thomas Schaaf’s men have shipped 10 goals in their last two away games and have lost five of their last six matches in all competitions.

In stark contrast, Spurs have won all three of their Champions League home games this season, scoring 11 goals in the process.

Redknapp said: “Our home form in the Champions League has been fantastic.

“But it’ll be a tough game tomorrow.

“They’ve got good players and we’ve got a lot of respect for them. Obviously, they’ve not been in the greatest of form recently but they’re dangerous opposition.”

He added: “They will turn the corner and they will start getting results. We just hope it doesn’t start tomorrow.”

Bremen have also failed to find the net in their last four games, which would appear to give Tottenham a great chance of ending their 17-match run without a clean sheet.

Redknapp said: “A win is more important for me.

“Obviously, it’d be nice if we can get a clean sheet but to get the win that we need is all important, however it comes tomorrow.”

Tottenham have already been warned not to underestimate the Germans after letting a 2-0 lead slip in September’s reverse fixture in Bremen.

They were undone by playmaker Marko Marin, who is likely to be in the side again tomorrow.

Redknapp said: “Marin is a real talent in my opinion, a real talent – very similar to (Luka) Modric.”