Rafael Van der Vaart is set to sit out another spell on the sidelines after aggravating his calf injury in training. The Dutchman had just made his return following a calf muscle strain, playing his part in the fine 1-0 win in the San Siro last week.
Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Van der Vaart will miss tomorrow night’s trip to Blackpool, ruling him out for those Fantasy Managers who gambled on him contributing for Tottenham’s second fixture of the gameweek.
“Rafa did his calf again yesterday in training so he’s struggling…Rafa missed a couple of games, played in Milan, got through 70 minutes and then yesterday morning didn’t feel good.”
Although a precious Fantasy commodity, Van der Vaart’s recent fragility is beginning to cause concern.
Spurs have a string of attractive fixtures, with some particularly obliging opponents due at White Hart Lane in the coming gameweeks. Fantasy Managers need Van der Vaart fit and ready to inflict damage in those, but with Redknapp citing fatigue as a possibly root cause of the Dutchman’s problems, there’s real concern that he will be handed rests – particularly if Spurs see off AC Milan in the second leg of their Champions League tie.
In the short-term we are at least given respite by Tottenham’s blank in gameweek 28. Spurs miss out as a result of Arsenal’s involvement in the Carling Cup final and that will give Van der Vaart time to make his recovery for the next league clash with Wolves. Redknapp seems hopeful that his playmaker will be back in the frame for that clash…
“We have a break, with Wolves away next then AC Milan at home. We’re hoping Rafa will be back for Wolves. He should be ok, it’s not a tear.”
Even if he recovers, the concern is that Redknapp will look to use Van der Vaart sparingly against Wolves with the second-leg in mind. That nagging doubt could well see the Dutchman sold on by a lot of his owners prior to Saturday’s deadline, as Fantasy Managers look to ensure that they have an intact starting XI available.
Van der Vaart was ranked second in our recent poll which canvassed opinion on those players being transferred out ahead of the Gameweek 28 deadline.

