Spurs manager Tim Sherwood confirmed that injuries will cost midfielders Erik Lamela and Etienne Capoue the rest of their season.
Lamela cost a club record $41.8 million, but Tim Sherwood says a back injury that has kept the winger out all of 2014 will end his season thanks to a lack of fitness.
He’s probably not going to play this season,” the Spurs boss told English media. “He’s been out a very long time, he’s going to need a preseason before he can play.”
“He’s been unfortunate with injuries and it’s a shame that he’s picked up the knocks because taking the settling in period aside, how are you meant to settle when you can’t go out there and perform because you’ve had this serious back injury?”
Lamela just scored one lone goal for Spurs all year - against FC Sheriff in the Europa League. Sherwood said he could still recover in time to feature for Argentina’s World Cup adventure, but nothing is a given at this point.
The manager also confirmed holding midfielder Etienne Capoue will miss the rest of the season with a leg injury. The French midfielder made just 12 appearances all season and scored one goal.
An ankle injury kept Capoue out for two months in 2013 before he returned and was asked to deputize even at center back during a season that Spurs seriously struggled with injuries.
Finally, Sherwood gave credit to Everton’s business in the transfer window compared to Tottenham’s, saying investing in Premier League experience deserves praise opposed to the purchasing overseas that Spurs focused on.
“I am a firm believer that Premier League experience is key,” Sherwood said. “Yes, you can buy someone who has never played in the Premier League, and he comes over and he is a revelation but it is more of a risk doing that.”
“If you want to look at any team you’ve got to look at Everton and what they’ve done in the transfer market, it is second to none. They got Gareth Barry, with 534 games or whatever it is in the Premier League. Romelu Lukaku was the best young player last season. The acquisition of James McCarthy.”
