• Midfielder has damaged angle ligaments
• Spurs recall Livermore from Peterborough

Tom Huddlestone is relieved to have avoided serious injury, after being forced off in Tottenham’s home win over Everton on Sunday but the midfielder has suffered ankle ligament damage and he faces an anxious wait to learn whether he will be sidelined for a mere two weeks or a more demoralising five.

Huddlestone suffered the problem to his ankle and lower shin when he was challenged by John Heitinga as he shot at goal and he departed White Hart Lane on crutches and with his foot in a protective boot. He has since undergone scans which, happily for him, have revealed no break or fracture but there is ligament damage and Huddlestone must wait for the swelling to subside before he can consider a precise time frame for his comeback.

Harry Redknapp has problems elsewhere in midfield. Jermaine Jenas needs a groin operation while David Bentley and Aaron Lennon are out with injuries in the same area. Wilson Palacios, meanwhile, is on nine bookings; one more and he will be suspended for two games. This morning the club recalled Jake Livermore, a 20-year-old midfielder, from his loan at Peterborough.

A statement from Spurs said: “Scans have revealed that Tom Huddlestone has suffered damage to the ligaments in his right ankle. The England international sustained the injury during Sunday’s win over Everton and the player will now be seen by ankle specialists before deciding on the best course of rehabilitation.”

Tottenham HotspurPremier LeagueJames Callowguardian.co.uk

• Recurrence of injury threatens World Cup hopes
• Prognosis not likely for another week

Aaron Lennon has suffered a further setback to his hopes of being selected by the England head coach, Fabio Capello, for this summer’s World Cup.

The winger, who has not played since Tottenham Hotspur defeated West Ham 2-0 in December, has had a recurrence of a groin injury. His club will now seek further specialist advice on how best to rehabilitate the injury following yesterday’s MRI scan and an ultrasound scan today.

“He will just have to rest for another week until they decide he can go outside and do a bit of work again,” said Harry Redknapp. “How long that’s going to be I wouldn’t like to say. We miss him, obviously, but everybody’s had that.

“Everton have had their long-term injuries, Ashley Cole, Arsenal with [Robin] van Persie, you get players who get injuries and he’s a key player for us but we’re lucky that David [Bentley] has come in and done so well.”

Asked whether the 22-year-old was thinking of the World Cup, the Spurs manager said: “I just think Aaron wants to get [back], that’s all he’s thinking about. It’s an exciting time for Tottenham, we’re pushing for the top four, we’re still in the FA Cup and he’s missing out on that. I think that’s the key to it.”

Spurs host Bolton in an FA Cup fifth-round replay tomorrow, after the 1-1 draw 10 days ago. Tom Huddlestone missed a penalty in that game, making it a total of four unconverted this season for Spurs. Asked who would take penalties if tomorrow’s tie is level after extra-time, Redknapp said: “It depends on the team. Niko [Kranjcar] was going to take them [on] Sunday. We’ll have to wait and see. If someone’s having a terrible game, a nightmare, he may decide he doesn’t want to take the penalty. And someone else who is confident – Tom was confident when he took it at Bolton. I thought he was a cert, he’s a fantastic striker of the ball, and he’d taken six before and never missed one.”

Redknapp hailed the form of Roman Pavlyuchenko, who scored twice in Spurs’ 3-0 victory at Wigan. He added: “I just pick him on what I see him do every day in training, his attitude and that decides whether he plays. He was terrific last week.”

Tottenham HotspurPremier LeagueEnglandJamie Jacksonguardian.co.uk