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Tottenham lifted by Dawson return
Simon Johnson, Evening Standard20 Dec 2007
Tottenham have been handed a major boost ahead of Saturday's north London derby against Arsenal with defender Michael Dawson set to return to training today.
Manager Juande Ramos is likely to bring him straight into the team at the Emirates Stadium as Didier Zokora faces a three-match ban for his sending-off against Manchester City on Tuesday. Zokora had to play as a makeshift centre-half alongside Younes Kaboul because Dawson, Ledley King, Anthony Gardner and Ricardo Rocha were all unfit.
The Ivory Coast midfielder, whose appeal against referee Steve Bennett's decision will be heard by the Football Association today, was set to continue at the back on Saturday but the club are not optimistic that the red card will be overturned. Tottenham also have left-backs Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto on the sidelines.
Dawson has missed the last two games with migraines but he was well enough to visit patients in local hospitals with the rest of the squad yesterday as part of the club's pre-Christmas activities.
Ramos, meanwhile, has confirmed the club have no intention of selling striker Dimitar Berbatov in January.
Manchester United were linked with a deal involving Wes Brown and Louis Saha plus £6m in exchange for the Bulgaria international.
But Ramos said: "There is no chance Berbatov will leave in January. On the contrary, we need him because if we want to reach our objectives we need a player of his class.
"They have to put a lot of money on the table and many good players to compensate for his quality. Dimitar is not for sale. It will be very difficult, very complicated for anyone to take him."
Berbatov also claimed he wants to stay.
He said: "It's a pleasure and an honour to play for Tottenham and I enjoy myself here. I love everyone who loves Tottenham and the passion of our fans.
"When we go on to the pitch and we hear them applauding and cheering the team, it gives us a lift and makes us determined to do well."
Ramos's hopes of guiding Spurs to the UEFA Cup - a trophy he has won for the past two years with Sevilla - took a knock after Getafe beat Anderlecht last night to finish top of Group G. The result means Spurs, who played the last of their group games two weeks ago, have qualified as runners-up from that section and will now face one of the eight teams that finished third in the Champions League group stages.
This includes Marseille, Rosenborg, Werder Bremen, Benfica, Rangers, Sporting Lisbon, PSV Eindhoven and SK Slavia Prague.
The draw for the last 32 takes place tomorrow in Nyon, Switzerland at midday and the games will be played on 13/14 February and 21 February, with Tottenham at home in the second leg.
Before Spurs resume their European campaign, they will face Arsenal over two legs in the Carling Cup semi-final and Gunners defender Philippe Senderos believes his club's young players can break Tottenham's hearts again after beating them at the same stage of the competition last season.
Arsenal's youngsters beat Spurs 5-3 on aggregate and the Swiss star, who was captain for Tuesday's quarter-final victory over Blackburn, said: "These players are getting stronger because they have the experience now.
"They are still learning but are ready to go out on the pitch and fight."
