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Townsend to miss World Cup with ankle injury

ESPN staff
April 30, 2014
Andros Townsend was injured in Tottenham's win at Stoke © Getty Images
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Tottenham winger Andros Townsend is out of the World Cup after it was confirmed that he will undergo surgery on the ankle he injured at Stoke last weekend.

The news comes as a hammer blow to the 22-year-old, who was hoping to make the final cut for Roy Hodgson's squad for this summer's trip to Brazil, after he played a crucial role in helping England qualify for the World Cup.

Townsend's sparkling performances in the final two qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland at Wembley last October appeared to establish the Spurs starlet as a key member of Roy Hodgson's plays for this summer.

Yet the 22-year-old has struggled to make his mark in the Tottenham side in the month's since he made his international breakthrough, as head coach Tim Sherwood as struggled to find a place for his in his starting line-up.

Now it has been confirmed that the injury to his left ankle in last Saturday's 1-0 victory against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium requires surgery.

"Following further examination and consultation, Andros Townsend is to undergo surgery on his left ankle on Thursday [tomorrow] after damaging ligaments during our fixture against Stoke City last Saturday," read a Spurs statement. "The injury is likely to sideline the young winger for up to ten weeks."

Townsend's absence from the squad removes one selection headache for boss Hodgson, who will confirm his World Cup squad at a press briefing in Luton on May 12.

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