Townsend Expected To Keep Place For England
Townsend waiting on injury news. (Reuters) IBTimes UK

Tottenham Hotspur's anguish looks set to continue on the pitch as well as off it as Andros Townsend waits to learn the severity of a hamstring injury.

The England international pulled up with the injury minutes after Emmanuel Adebayor gave Spurs a lead against West Ham United in the quarter finals of the Capital One Cup and was forced to be replaced by Nacer Chadli with less than 20 minutes left.

If the sight of the marauding winger limping off was not bad enough, interim manager Tim Sherwood watched the Hammers score two late goals to dump his side out of the competition to ensure a miserable week for the club continues.

Although the club are yet to confirm how long Townsend will be ruled out for, Sherwood is preparing to be without the winger for the entire festive period. When asked if the winger will be out for a considerable length of time, he said: "It looks like it. It looks like he pulled up with a hamstring."

After a harrowing 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, Tottenham are likely to be without Townsend for a hectic seven day period in which they play three games. A trip to Southampton awaits this weekend followed by back to back home games against the currently manager-less West Brom and Stoke City,

Should the winger's absence stretch into the New Year, he will miss Tottenham's visit to Manchester United, three days before an eagerly anticipated north London derby with Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup.

As to who will be in charge of those games remains to be seen, but Sherwood hopes his name is one being considered on a permanent basis.

"The immediate future is up in the air, that's as much as I know," Sherwood said.

"I'm up for the challenge. I always have been. I'm very opinionated. I know a certain way I need to play. I think I can manage men and deal with them and be honest with them.

"I think the chairman and the football club need to make the correct decision and find the manager who's best compatible to take this football club forward. I've got to be in the frame, but it's not my decision, unfortunately."