Tottenham hit by Carr injury blow
Tottenham full-back Stephen Carr could miss the first two weeks of the season after a scan on his knee injury showed inflammation of a joint.
Carr is unlikely to be available until after Tottenham's first three games of the new season against Aston Villa, Everton and Blackburn.
He is hoping to play in the Republic of Ireland's match against Holland on 1 September but may have to wait until 9 September before making his first appearance of the season for Spurs at home to Southampton.
"The scan revealed inflammation in the knee joint and the only remedy is complete rest," said Carr.
"The doctors have told me not to do anything in the next two weeks that could aggravate the problem so that means no running at all.
"It's frustrating knowing I can't start the new campaign, especially as the team have enjoyed an encouraging pre-season.
"The injury flared up a week ago and is a result of wear and tear rather than a single knock."
Meanwhile, Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle today confirmed that he has made an enquiry for Southampton centre-half Dean Richards.
The former Bradford City and Wolves defender declared his interest in a possible move to north London last week.
Hoddle sees Richards as the perfect partner for Goran Bunjevcevic at the heart of his new- look defence.
The Spurs manager watched his side lose for the first time this pre-season yesterday with Gus Poyet scoring for the visitors in the 2-1 defeat by fellow ENIC- owned club AEK Athens in Greece.
But then he said: "Deano is one on my list but we'll see where that takes us.
"As far as I'm concerned we made contact a couple of weeks ago with the club. At the moment nothing is happening, that's how it is."
Hoddle also has urged Spurs fans to forget former skipper Sol Campbell and get behind the team, a sentiment echoed by the members of his squad.
His appeal follows the midweek match against Fiorentina when the White Hart Lane crowd voiced anti-Campbell chants.
Hoddle said of the situation with Campbell, who joined rivals Arsenal in the summer: "I'm not happy when I hear the abuse Sol is getting."
