• Champions League

Hutton adds to Tottenham's defensive crisis

ESPN staff
April 1, 2011

Tottenham are likely to take a seriously depleted defence to Spain for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, after Alan Hutton was reportedly ruled out for a month on Friday.

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp is in the midst of an injury crisis, with four of his six recognised central defenders out injured. Ledley King faces a summer operation, Jonathan Woodgate picked up a fresh injury in a friendly with Barnet, Younes Kaboul remains absent and William Gallas has a knee problem.

Now Redknapp has reportedly lost Hutton, also to a knee injury, ruling him out of both legs against Madrid. The Scotland international has made 27 appearances this season, and his absence leaves Redknapp with only one fit right-back.

With Kyle Walker on loan at Aston Villa, Redknapp will hope Vedran Corluka stays fit in order to feature on the right side of Spurs' defence. However, that does mean that the Tottenham boss effectively loses Corluka as central defensive cover for Sebastien Bassong and Michel Dawson.

Madrid also have injury problems ahead of Tuesday's clash, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Marcelo all expected to miss out.

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