Football: Uefa Cup first round: Ferdinand's new fear

TOTTENHAM

LES FERDINAND and Tim Sherwood are the latest Tottenham players to add to George Graham's injury woes - with Ferdinand facing the prospect of an operation to clear up his latest problem.

Both players were missing from the squad that flew out to Moldova yesterday for tonight's Uefa Cup first round second leg tie against Zimbru Chisinau. Ferdinand, who has been hampered by a number of injury problems during his time at White Hart Lane, is struggling to shake off an ankle injury he picked up against Bradford City nearly three weeks ago, and may undergo surgery.

The stand-in captain, Sherwood, has been carrying a groin injury and Graham, the Tottenham manager, has decided to rest the England midfielder from the travelling party, who are defending a comfortable 3-0 lead from the first leg. The pair join a casualty list which also includes Sol Campbell, Darren Anderton, John Scales and their summer signing Willem Korsten.

Centre-back Scales also failed to travel after breaking down in training with a recurring calf problem, but fellow defender Ramon Vega is in the party and may make his first appearance since breaking a foot in last season's Worthington Cup final.

Even though Spurs lead comfortably, Graham will impress upon them the importance of completing the job with another victory. "You should try to get something out of every game you play," he said.