Jermain Defoe’s recently announced groin operation will keep the striker sidelined for two weeks or anything up to a month. It comes as a blow to Spurs of course but the timing of this operation is no accident. Harry Redknapp knows full well that Spurs are about to enter into a period of games that can potentially be won without Defoe’s talents up front.
For Fantasy Managers Defoe’s absence represents an opportunity to exploit a kind run of fixtures by swooping for a likely beneficiary who could potentially offer value. Sadly, with next week’s transfer window looming, Harry’s wheeling and dealing glands are twitching, making things decidedly fuzzy when it comes to the Tottenham forward line…
Despite the injury, Defoe will be in the Tottenham starting lineup against Young Boys tonight but, as Redknapp has confirmed, he will only see action for an hour.
“It might only be half a game he can last now, but it’s getting less each time – the pain’s getting worse…He wants to play and train all the time but he’s got to have it done now. He can’t go on like that.”
Following tonight’s exertions, Defoe will likely miss at least the next three league games, all plum fixtures against Wigan, West Brom and Wolves. He could possibly make a return to contention for the visit to former club West Ham on September 25.
The striker’s absence coincides with a kind run of opponents then and Fantasy Managers must therefore be on alert as to the likely beneficiary up front. It’s a conundrum packed with variables as the immediate future of Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane and even Roman Pavlyuchenko remain insecure as the transfer window slowly draws firmly shut on Tuesday.
Pavlyuchenko would appear to be the safest option. He is the only striker to demonstrate form so far this season and having regained fitness, should see action against Young Boys tonight and, depending on how many minutes he gets, earn a start against Wigan this weekend. The problem with his selection is that he’s unlikely to be paired with Crouch – it’s far more likely that he’ll be rotated with him with perhaps Keane giving Defoe’s role as partner.
Tuesday’s window is a major complication. There is plenty of speculation surrounding both Keane and Crouch that casts uncertainty over their future at Spurs and their Fantasy potential over the next month. Redknapp has issued a hands-off on Peter Crouch – only today remarking that he is not for sale but we have to prepare a fairly big pinch of salt to go with that – many managers have been “willing” to let Crouch go when the price is right.
It also seems very likely that Harry will strengthen up front, particularly if Champions League football can be secured tonight. Luis Fabiano has been a long-term target and Seville’s exit from Europe last night may bring his arrival that little bit closer. PSV Eindhoven’s Swedish striker Ola Toivonen has also been linked recently.
Redknapp is not one to dally when a transfer window is looming and arrivals at White Hart Lane look assured. Sadly for us that makes any attempt to exploit Defoe’s absence something of a minefield – at least until the window has passed and the situation with strikers at the Lane becomes clearer.
Right now we may have to be content with securing Gareth Bale, perhaps gambling on Aaron Lennon, and sit back to see if Spurs can capitalise on the favours granted by the fixture computer.