Jonathan Woodgate’s injury remains a mystery

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is facing a defence crisis ahead of his club’s Carling Cup tie against Preston on Wednesday night.

The Spurs boss could be without all four of his first choice centre-backs at Deepdale, after both Sebastien Bassong and Ledley King picked up knocks against Chelsea on Sunday. That pair will be added to long term casualties, Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate, on Tottenham’s growing injury list.

Neither Woodgate, nor Dawson, has kicked a ball for Tottenham this season, and although Dawson is expected to be fit in the next fortnight, the news on Woodgate, released yesterday, is very worrying for Spurs fans.

Redknapp admitted that “Woodgate’s nowhere near playing, adding, "He went to see a specialist again and he just can't train. We haven't got to the bottom of the injury at all, what's causing him the discomfort."

In the absence of recognised central defenders, Spurs are likely to field a makeshift defensive pairing of Vedran Corlucka and Tom Huddlestone against Championship side Preston on Wednesday night.