Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe set to miss both legs of Europa League tie against Basel

England striker has suffered a muscle injury and will also miss crucial Premier League clash against Everton

Jermain Defoe (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham will be without Jermain Defoe for another two weeks after the striker was ruled out with an aggravation of a groin problem.

“He has a muscle injury,” manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed yesterday. “He is definitely out for two games, maybe Basel away. It’s a big blow. It’s on the same muscle where he had a small tear last month. It’s obviously a big miss because he is a player who represents a lot for us and has shown tremendous quality for us this season.”

Defoe has struggled with form and fitness recently, losing the lone centre-forward’s role to Emmanuel Adebayor. Defoe’s last goal for Spurs was on Boxing Day, in a 4-0 win at Aston Villa, since when he has made 12 appearances without scoring.

Villas-Boas said that midfielders Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey may continue to be drafted in up front.

“You have seen us play with Dempsey and Bale up front. We have coped with it sometimes successfully and sometimes not so but most of the time with good results. We will definitely have him [Defoe] back for the Man City game. It takes him out of the next three games. But it’s not that bad.”