Van Der Vaart Ready For Liverpool

Van back this Week End happy days !

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7169650,00.html?

Rafael van der Vaart could be in contention to play in Tottenham Hotspur's next Premier League match against Liverpool following a rapid recovery from injury.

The Dutch playmaker suffered a hamstring injury during Spurs' home defeat by Manchester City last month and was expected to be sidelined for around six weeks.

He sat out his country's Euro 2012 qualifiers and was also unavailable for Spurs' first win of the season against Wolves on Saturday.

However, the former Ajax ace is optimistic he will be fit for next weekend's home date with Liverpooland could even return against PAOK Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday.

No problem

"I have been treated intensively by (physiotherapist) Richard van Toorn," Van der Vaart told his official website earlier in the week.

"I was able to do proper turns again and regular sprints. Next weekend seems like no problem to me!"

Veteran physio Van Toorn has been impressed by the 28-year-old's recovery and feels he is ready to return to action.

Van Toorn said: "In the hospital they said Rafa would be out for more than a month but he can play in next week's Tottenham match.

"I will leave that decision up to the medical staff of Tottenham.

"Rafael is a crown jewel for football. I have rarely met a player in all those years who is so dedicated to his job and who wants to work so hard to get back on the pitch."

comment by The Good Doctor M (U10051)

posted on 12/9/11

Don't know how quick I'd be to keep the team that beat Wolves. Yeah we won, but we only looked convincing in the last twenty minutes.

Not being all doom and gloom, but 2-0 doesn't tell the whole story of that game. We created very little in the first hour... looked quite unimaginative... and then of course, VDV is one of our best players... we don't leave him on the bench simply because we managed a win without him.

4-4-2 if we must (personally I'd like to see VDV play just behind Ade in a 4-5-1 with Defoe dropping to the bench), but VDV is not a player you drop because the team managed to beat Wolves.

comment by Whadaboudawarderboddlewiddle? (U5151)

I agree with all that apart from one thing Doctor. Why play 4-5-1 when a lone striker has never suited Spurs?

comment by South of the River (U7929)

Sandro

4-5-1 because we've never tried it with a striker like Adebayor.

4-5-1 does not suit Defoe or Pav, never suited Crouch, but Ade played this role for both Arsenal and Madrid and was knocking them in for fun.

4-4-2 means VDV on the right, which, I think is a bit of a waste if I'm honest. He tends to wander and that will leave Walker pretty much exposed.

In a 4-5-1 not only will he have freedom to play more or less as he wishes, but he'll also have a front man who can hold the ball up for him (which Crouch couldn't do), nod them down (Crouch could). I think Ade will prove a much better foil for VDV than Crouch ever did and I can imagine they would link up very well. It also means we have 5 in the midfield... it allows Modric a little more freedom also. In a 4-4-2 he'd have to do as much defensive work as he would offensive.

We're playing a strong team in Liverpool. 5 in midfield seems logical to me.

But it's Harry, so Christ knows what he'll do.