Sep 04

England’s Michael Dawson ruled out of Switzerland match

• Knee injury forces Dawson to return to Tottenham
• England choose not to call up a replacement

Michael Dawson has returned to Tottenham after being ruled out of England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland on Tuesday.

The Tottenham defender was carried off with a serious-looking knee injury during the second half of last night’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria. The England coach Fabio Capello had already expressed his concern for Dawson and after an initial examination this morning, the 26-year-old returned to White Hart Lane.

“Following a scan on his knee this morning, Michael Dawson will miss England’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland on Tuesday,” read an FA statement. “England and Tottenham Hotspur medical staff were in contact this morning and Dawson has now returned to his club for further treatment.”

England will not call up a replacement to the squad before the match against Switzerland on Tuesday, the FA confirmed.

EnglandEuro 2012Tottenham Hotspurguardian.co.uk

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Sep 01

Peter Crouch withdraws from England squad for Euro qualifiers

• Tottenham striker Peter Crouch succumbs to a back injury
• Phil Jagielka remains doubtful after sitting out training

Peter Crouch has withdrawn from the England squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland due to a back injury, the Football Association have confirmed.

There have been concerns throughout the week over the Tottenham striker’s fitness to take part in either of the matches, to be played on Friday and Tuesday respectively. Crouch’s club manager Harry Redknapp rated his chances as doubtful when he joined up with the England squad on Tuesday after the 29-year-old left the pitch with a rib injury in the second half of Tottenham’s home defeat to Wigan at the weekend.

The England manager Fabio Capello took the precaution of naming an additional striker in his 24-man squad, so when it was confirmed this afternoon that Crouch had returned to Spurs for treatment, there was no requirement for a replacement to be drafted in.

Bobby Zamora was ruled out prior to the squad being announced, leaving Capello to choose from Wayne Rooney, Carlton Cole, Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe, who has recovered from a groin complaint, amongst his striking options.

The FA opted not to make any further injury announcements and with only one goalkeeper, Joe Hart, being fit to train yesterday, the absence of any further disruptions to England’s preparations will be welcome. There is cover for Phil Jagielka, who also sat out training yesterday with an ankle problem which David Moyes revealed made him an extreme doubt following Everton’s defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday.

EnglandEuro 2012Tottenham HotspurFabio CapelloBulgariaguardian.co.uk

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Aug 31

Tottenham ‘hopeful’ Rafael van der Vaart will join from Real Madrid

• Harry Redknapp moves late for midfielder on deadline day
• ‘I wouldn’t like to say. It was a last-minute job’

The Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, tonight said he was “hopeful” that Rafael van der Vaart will join the club from Real Madrid.

Redknapp moved late for the 27-year-old Dutch midfielder on deadline day, after being alerted to his availability at around 4pm, and Spurs were still waiting for confirmation from the Premier League that the transfer can go through.

“It’s still dragging on,” Redknapp told Sky Sports News. “We have been trying to do something. We are just waiting for some clearance.

“I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for £18m. He is available now for about £8m and we thought for that amount of money he is a top player.

“I’m hopeful, it could happen, honestly I wouldn’t like to say one way or the other. It was a last-minute job.”

Tottenham HotspurTransfer windowKaty Murrellsguardian.co.uk

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