Van der Vaart eyes Liverpool clash after shock recovery
TOTTENHAM have received a huge boost after forward Rafael van der Vaart was told he could return next weekend – a full four weeks ahead of schedule.
It was feared Van der Vaart would be sidelined for up to six weeks after he injured his hamstring in the 5-1 drubbing by Manchester City a fortnight ago.
But the Holland star has made such rapid progress that his physiotherapist Dick van Toorn believes he will be ready to face Liverpool on Sunday.
“I have been treated intensively by Dick van Toorn. I was able to do proper turns again and regular sprints. Next weekend seems like no problem to me!” Van der Vaart wrote on his website.
Van Toorn added: “In the hospital they said Rafa would be out for more than a month but he can play in next week’s Tottenham match. I will leave that decision up to the medical staff of Tottenham.”
The former Real Madrid player is unlikely to feature on Thursday, however, when Tottenham travel to Greece to face PAOK Salonika.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has warned he is likely to rest much of the team who beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday for the Europa League group fixture.
“The problem I’ve got on Thursday is I can’t really take this lot who’ve played at Wolves,” said Redknapp. “It is a nuisance.”