http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ledley-King-c21859 out for Tottenham Hotspur, Harry Redknapp confirms
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed an injury to defender Ledley King, which could keep the 31-year-old sidelined for a while. During the Sunday clash against Newcastle United, King was replaced by Sebastien Bassong in just the 30th
minute after a muscle injury.
The injury was bad enough for the central defender to be taken off and it seems he has now been ruled out by Redknapp until further notice. The match, which ended in a narrow 2-2 draw, was a reflection of how the Spurs are in dire need of strengthening their
back four.
Redknapp praised the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 international, who has been a Tottenham Hotspur player all his life, for his fighting spirit. However, the English manager revealed the player had chronic knee injury which limited his performance and contribution sizeably.
Redknapp said in an interview:
“He's got an abductor strain.
He's a fantastic player but his knee blows up like a balloon every time he plays so he can't train.”
It was in the 2008-2009 season that King’s injury was detected and it became clear that the English defender would be unable to feature in every single game for Tottenham Hotspur. According to the manager, King’s injury could not be cured and was something
the defender had to manage.
King is unable to make long runs and his knee swells up after every game, because of which the England defender has to rest the following days. Unlike other players, King’s training mostly include the gym which could be one of the reasons for the fact that
he is not entirely fit.
With his current contract set to expire at the end of the season, Redknapp has set conditions to a new contract, which include at least 20 appearances in the Premier League in one season. That will only be possible if King stays fit and manages to avoid
other injuries altogether.
He revealed:
“He plays on a Saturday and comes out the following Friday and has a jog for five minutes and then plays on the Saturday again.”
His muscle injury was a result of unfitness, which Redknapp felt could have been avoided had King been working hard on his training. The extent of the muscle injury remains unknown, which is why it is not certain when King will return to action.
The Spurs boss continued:
“His body is nowhere near fit so he's always open to pulling muscles and getting strains. That's what's happened today.”
Redknapp himself was uncertain of when King would be able to return to first team action for the London side. He revealed the player was undergoing tests, after which it would become somewhat clear as to how long Spurs would have to do without his services.
He said:
“I wouldn't like to say (how long he will be out for) but it will be a while I think.”
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