Cameron Carter-Vickers
Tammy Abraham of Chelsea is challenged by Cameron Carter-Vickers of Spurs during the Barclays U21 Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur U21 and Chelsea U21 at The Lamex Stadium on 11 January 2016 in Stevenage, England Getty

Tottenham Hotspur have lost defender Cameron Carter-Vickers to an injury that has forced the youngster to excuse himself from playing for the US squad, which take on Colombia in the Rio Olympics 2016 qualifying play-offs. The defender is the fourth choice centre-back at the club and injury to Jan Vertonghen has only exacerbated the need to keep everyone fit at the back.

US Soccer have confirmed that the player was originally in the roster to fly to Colombia but has been left out of the fixture because of concerns over his health. There has been no official comment from the club or USA regarding the extent of his injury. Spurs, who last won the league in 1961, are on the verge of creating history with a chance to end their title drought this season.

Carter-Vickers has not played a single game thus far for Tottenham but is a regular feature for the U-21 side and is highly rated by manager Mauricio Pochettino. Toby Alderweireld and Kevin Wimmer are the two first choice defenders at Spurs at the moment while Federico Fazio has been sent on loan till the end of the season. Vertonghen is expected to be back after the international break but injury to Carter-Vickers leaves Tottenham very light at the back in case of another injury.

Meanwhile, in the league, Tottenham kept their title hopes alive with a brilliant 3-0 win over Bournemouth who are all but safe from relegation. Eddie Howe's men were down a goal as early as in the first minute through Harry Kane who hit another in the first half to put the game to bed. Christian Eriksen put in a third to improve Spurs' goal difference, which lies at +32, more than any other club in the top four.

The win takes them to only five points off leaders Leicester City and six ahead of arch rivals Arsenal. However, they have a tricky few games coming up in the league, with games against Liverpool, Manchester United and a trip to Stoke City at the Britannia, which would go a long way in proving Spurs' title credentials.

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