Ziege in new blow for Spurs

Adrian Curtis13 April 2012

Tottenham's preparations for the new season were dealt another blow last night when German international-Christian Ziege limped out of their 1-1 draw against Celtic at White Hart Lane with a twisted ankle.

Spurs, already missing Jamie Redknapp with a similar injury suffered in training, lost Ziege after only 17 minutes against the Scottish champions.

The wing-back is now out of Sunday's final pre-season game at home to Lazio and he is also a doubt for Tottenham's Premiership opener against Everton at Goodison Park the following Saturday.

The injury was another disappointment for manager Glenn Hoddle, who has already lost Gus Poyet with knee ligament damage and is waiting for England defender Ledley King to return from injury. Hoddle said: "Ziege has got a twist and kick on his ankle and it is another blow for us. I've waited a whole year to see him and Steve Carr on the same pitch together and it lasted just 17 minutes.

"I hope that is not a picture for the future. It's too early to say how long he will be out at this stage but I think he will definitely be out for Sunday. Whether he can recover in time for the start of the season remains to be seen. But it is not the best of news."

Hoddle, meanwhile, could do a lot worse this morning than pick up the phone and ask Celtic manager Martin O'Neill how much he wants for striker Shaun Maloney.

The speedy 19-year-old was a constant thorn in Tottenham's side until injury ended his participation in the second half.

Hoddle's No1 target may be Real Madrid's Fernando Morientes but Maloney would represent a sound investment. The teenager is already held in high esteem at Celtic Park and quickly demonstrated his quality in front of a crowd of over 22,000 by scoring a stunning free-kick to earn the visitors a draw.

Ziege played his part in Tottenham's ninth-minute opener when his free-kick picked out Steffen Iversen, who stabbed the ball home. But within 10 minutes Celtic hauled themselves level when Jamie Smith was brought down by Ziege's replacement, Mauricio Taricco, on the edge of the penalty area.

Malaysian-born Maloney, scorer of 10 goals in 20 outings last season, including four in Celtic's 8-0 demolition of Stirling in the Scottish League Cup, stepped up to send a curling 25-yard free-kick beyond Kasey Keller in Tottenham's goal.

Spurs skipper Teddy Sheringham went close to restoring Tottenham's lead on three occasions in the second half. His first effort, a fierce 18-yard drive, was well saved by Celtic goalkeeper Magnus Hedman and then the England international saw a glancing header come back off the upright.

His final chance arrived three minutes from the end following a smart through ball from Carr. Sheringham was clear favourite to round Hedman and tuck home the winner but somehow the Celtic keeper managed to deny him.

In the end honours were even after a commendable work rate from both sides. But with all the talk around the ground concerning Tottenham's swoop for Morientes, the result was of a little consequence.

Hoddle said: "It was a good work out for us. They have been playing really well and in what you would call proper games. We have been playing friendlies really.

"We shook things up in the second half of the game and the lads responded well. I felt we had the better of it after that but it was a good game of football."

The best football was played by a relatively unknown 19-year-old who clearly has a big future. Make a note of his name.

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