Villas-Boas Optimistic Over Parker Comeback
Andre Villas-Boas says Scott Parker is close to a first-team return for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas says Scott Parker is closing to returning to first-team training after stepping up his return from Achillies surgery.
Parker hasn't featured since England's European Championship quarter final defeat to Italy having gone under the knife in August and is still to return to first-team training.
But Villas-Boas is upbeat that Parker, who originally set a return date of mid-September, is ready to resume full Tottenham training ahead of the busy festive period.
"Scott is making good progress with his fitness levels and his injury," Villas-Boas said. "He's still working away from training but we're hoping to have him back as soon as possible when his form hits the top level.
"We want him to regain fitness, he's still in light training but hopefully in the next two weeks he can reach the levels of his colleagues and be available for match selection."
Injury fears over midfielder Sandro have been eased with Villas-Boas confirming the Brazilian will be available for the visit of Liverpool, while Younes Kaboul remains a long-term injury victim.
Meanwhile, as the fallout from Sunday's distasteful scenes at White Hart Lane continues, Villas-Boas has praised the reaction of the authorities, The Football Association and West Ham United in the aftermath.
West Ham fans were alleged to have sung anti-semitic songs during the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham over the weekend, with two supporters having been subsequently arrested and cautioned and one fan banned from home and away matches for life.
Both the police and The FA, the latter of whom have previously been criticised for their weak stance on fighting prejudice, have launched investigations into the reports and Villas-Boas has praised the speed of the reaction.
"The level of the aggression of the chanting goes out of proportion, its complete stupidity," the Spurs boss stated. "I'm grateful for the quickness in which both clubs have got into the matter and The FA and the Police.
"West Ham have set an example immediately by giving a lifetime ban to the ban and it's obviously avoidable and I'm pretty happy that both clubs worked with each other to try to get the actions right immediately."
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