Tottenham were put through a rigorous test of their Champions League credentials by Young Boys last night, clawing their way back to a 3-2 deficit from the first leg but sustaining several key injuries in the process.

Harry Redknapp’s side looked ponderous and unsure on the plastic surface in Berne and were rolled over by an inventive and purposeful Swiss side who claimed a 3-0 lead in half an hour of disastrous football for Spurs. Replies from Sebastien Bassong and Roman Pavlyuchenko handed Redknapp a Champions League lifeline but the pitch and test provided by Young Boys had already taken its toll.

Both Jermaine Defoe and Luka Modric sustained injuries which make them immediate doubts for Saturday’s testing trip to Stoke – not a fixture that Redknapp will relish after the shock to system and body inflicted in last night’s “great defeat”…

Defoe is nursing a groin injury having been replaced on 66 minutes while Modric pulled up late in the first-half with a similar problem and was duly replaced at the break.

“We’ll have to see how they are…”

Was all Harry had to say on their situation post-match.

Their replacements Robbie Keane and Niko Kranjcar are perhaps best placed to come into the lineup for the Britannia trip although Redknapp will surely have one eye on the multi-million pound second-leg with Young Boys on Wednesday. That could well influence his teamsheet with Pavlyuchenko, a player who is already stamping a significant claim for a Premier League starting role, perhaps spared leaving Peter Crouch to partner Keane up front.

Pavlyuchenko’s form is certainly stronger than that of Defoe – last night’s withdrawal was typical for the striker who was subbed in 11 of his last 13 games last season and has scored just 2 goals over the same period. Sobering statistics for those with Defoe sitting on their Watchlist.

At the back Redknapp also has a conundrum. Does he recall Ledley King to his rearguard for the Stoke test or preserve him further for the Champions League Qualifier? Should he be used on Wednesday he would be very unlikely to feature the following weekend at home to Wigan.

The upheaval and uncertainty caused by these injuries is a problem for Fantasy Managers at a time when the Spurs squad looks ripe for the picking. The opening fixtures have fallen nicely for Spurs but, Gareth Bale aside, finding players to capitalise on the kind run over the next five (stk WIG wba WOL whm) now looks tricky.