Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has been declared unavailable for the north London club's UEFA Europa League tie against Swiss side FC Basel.

Jermain Defoe
Reuters

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas, speaking ahead of the first leg of the European tie, to be played at White Hart Lane on Thursday evening, also confirmed the 30-year-old England international will miss the weekend's Premier League game against Everton.

"Jermain has a muscle injury which is probably going to take him out of the next two games definitely and maybe Basel away," AVB explained, adding, "It's a big blow. It's on the same muscle that he had a small tear last month. It's on the other side now and it's a big miss as he represents a lot for us and he will be a big miss."

News the club's second highest goal scorer, after Welsh international Gareth Bale, will be unavailable for the league game against the Toffees will disappoint fans.

Spurs are locked in a fight with Manchester City and London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, for the final two Champions League qualifying places in the league table.

And the weekend's game against David Moyes' side, who are sixth and still harbour an outside chance of breaking into the top four, is a particularly important one.

If Spurs do not win and ensure some momentum moving into the final few weeks of the campaign, assignments like the trip to Stamford Bridge and the visit of City, as well as games against relegation-threatened Wigan and Sunderland, will only make it harder for the team to return to the Champions League.

Hugo Lloris Returns

There is some good news though. Spurs have confirmed that French international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has recovered from a knock to the knee during the international break at the end of March. The 26-year-old summer signing from Olympique Lyon will be ready to face both Basel and Everton. There is further good news in the return of American forward Clint Dempsey. The ex-Fulham midfielder has recovered from the exertions of his international duties

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