Jonathan Woodgate is expected to be fit for the Carling Cup Final despite suffering a bloody head wound in Tottenham's 2-1 win at Hull.

The centre-back, who scored his side's 86th-minute winner, needed six stitches after an accidental clash with team-mate Vedran Corluka.

Woodgate was also Spurs' matchwinner in last year's final against Chelsea and is determined not to let the cut wreck his chances of playing in Sunday's clash with Manchester United at Wembley.

Speaking after the Hull game, Woodgate was far more concerned with the state of his side's defending — which almost cost them the points — than his health.

He said: “It is about individual errors, and being willing to put your head on things where it's not necessarily going to be your ball. We've got to learn to do that, and we need to learn fast.”

Spurs are now five points clear of the bottom three, but relegation fears still linger given a series of lapses at the back — epitomised by Michael Turner's scrappy equaliser.

Woodgate added: “It's about organisation as well, so we have to be professionals, and start doing a bit of both. But this was an important win – more important than winning the cup final. Keeping our top-flight status is more important than anything else.”

Looking ahead to Wembley, Woodgate knows United will start the final as heavy favourites but is confident his side are capable of causing an upset. He added: “On our day, we can beat anyone.

We have proved that in the past. It's not going to be easy, but it won't be easy for United, either. We will go there and we will look to lift the trophy.”

But manager Harry Redknapp fears their chances of winning have been undermined by a “crazy” fixture list. The Final comes just three days after the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie against Shakhtar Donetsk and will be Spurs' third game in a week.

Redknapp said: “Whoever heard of you playing Thursday night before playing a cup final at the weekend? People have been in cup finals over the years, you don't play Thursday night. You go away for two or three days and have a rest. The whole fixture list is crazy.”