Tottenham ace Jermain Defoe nursing secret pelvic injury

 

               Poorly: Jermain Defoe of Tottenham has been playing through the pain.......

 

Michael Regan Jermain Defoe missed Tottenham's shock FA Cup defeat to Leeds because he is nursing a secret pelvic injury.The England striker has been playing through the pain barrier is a desperate bid to help keep his club's season on track.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy must surely now dip into the transfer market for a new striker ahead of Thursday's deadline with Emmanuel Adebayor away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Defoe DID train last week but has been carrying his condition for some time with sources suggesting he may need surgery.Tottenham responded to widespread doubts about his fitness last week by posting pictures of the striker after training on their official Twitter feed.

But Defoe is understood to have had treatment within the last few days to put him in line to play against Norwich on Wednesday night.There is even surprise at the club that the striker played in last week's Premier League game at home to Manchester United.Defoe played all 90 minutes of that match, which finished 1-1. But Clint Dempsey played - and scored - in the centre-forward position against Leeds yesterday.

Spurs interest in Benteke

Tottenham are tracking Celtic striker Gary Hooper and have watched Watford goal sensation Matej Vydra. The north Londoners are also understood to be "very interested" in Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke.The Midlands club will be relieved that the powerful 22-year-old, who has scored 11 times this season, cannot move this January under FIFA rules having already played for two clubs this season.But Spurs are keen and Villa could find it hard to keep Benteke if their London rivals can offer him Champions League football in the summer.