Tottenham could be set for up to 3 weeks without the striker Jermain Defoe after the striker was injured in the recent match against West Brom during the weekend. The manager Andre Villas-Boas confirmed that the striker's injury is serious than initially thought, while he has also said that the decision not to sign a striker in January might prove to be costly for the club.

Tottenham are currently fighting for a place in the top four at the end of the season with Chelsea and Arsenal. Due to the departure of the Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor to the African cup of nations, Villas-Boas was left with only Defoe as the main striker.

As a result of this injury, Defoe will also miss the friendly match for England against Brazil. Due to the elimination of Togo from the African cup of nations, the manager is expected to welcome the return of Adebayor to the team. Still, it leaves him with just one option up front over the next few weeks. Tottenham are currently fourth in the Premier league table with a four point advantage over Arsenal, but they are just three points above Everton in the fifth place. They have managed just two wins in the last five matches.

"We'll have to scan it to see if there is more damage, but hopefully it will only be two to three weeks. He has some ligament damage to his ankle. We will have to see the full extent of the injury. But we will miss him badly. We didn't stop attacking when we made the change. I can understand you don't see a striker but I think we have goals throughout the squad. It is difficult without Defoe but we have to adapt and hope for his comeback as soon as possible," said Villas-Boas.