Double Blow Leaves Tottenham With Eight-man Injury List For Chelsea Clash

Tottenham Hotspur have suffered a double injury blow ahead of the pivotal Premier League weekend trip to Chelsea after Kyle Walker and Ezekiel Fryers both withdrew from their respective midweek international commitments.

Walker hasn't played since the win over Newcastle United due to a hip problem but was expected to link up with Roy Hodgson's men ahead of the friendly with Denmark with England preparing for the game at Spurs' training ground.

Spurs boss Tim Sherwood confirmed after the win over Cardiff City that Walker would not be involved this week and after failing to participate in training this week, England have confirmed the 23 year old's absence.

Hodgson said: "As you know Kyle hasn't played for the last two or three games for Tottenham but we were rather hoping that when I selected the squad he would recover and play for Tottenham at the weekend and be fit to play for us.

"Unfortunately it is another week before he will be fit to play so we have to let him go."

Fryers, who started Tottenham's last two games against FC Dnipro and Cardiff, has been forced to withdraw from the England Under-21's squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales through injury.

Although Sherwood had expected Walker to miss the England friendly against Denmark, the last game before Hodgson selects his squad for the World Cup, his absence points towards an extended spell on the side-lines.

Spurs travel to Chelsea this week at the start of a pivotal run of games in March which includes the Europa League last 16 tie against Benfica and further Premier League matches against Arsenal, Southampton and Liverpool which will shape the club's pursuit of a top four place.

The blows adds to Tottenham's lengthy injury list which includes Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches, Younes Kaboul, Erik Lamela, Danny Rose and Christian Eriksen, though Denmark boss Morten Olsen plans to field the playmaker against England at Wembley.

With a four point gap to Manchester City and six points separating them from Liverpool and Arsenal, news of the blows come at the worst possible time for Sherwood, who faces being without eight players for the visit of leaders Chelsea.