Defoe blood twist as Spurs use controversial method to aid crocked striker

Tottenham are using the once controversial blood-spinning recovery technique in an attempt to save Jermain Defoe's season.

The England international has been carrying a pelvic injury for a month and the problem has escalated so much that he was forced to miss Sunday's FA Cup defeat against Leeds.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas hopes Defoe can face Norwich City tonight, though there are fears that the striker could need surgery to cure the problem.

 

 And the Spurs medical team are using the blood-spinning method in a bid to keep their top-scorer on the pitch during the crucial next three months.

The technique involves a small sample of a person's blood injected out of the body before it is spun to increase the concentration of the growth hormone.

The blood sample is then injected into the athlete's problem area which can help an injury heal five times faster.

In 2005, Chelsea, managed by Jose Mourinho, were warned by the World Anti-Doping Agency that their use of the method maybe be unlawful after it emerged the club used the technique to speed up Arjen Robben's recovery from injury. However, blood-spinning is more commonly used in sport today.

 Villa-Boas is understandably eager to keep Defoe off the injury list given his only other recognised striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, is with Togo at the Africa Cup of Nations. 

The Portuguese said: 'We acknowledged that resting him for Leeds was almost compulsory so we let him out of the game and he has made an excellent recovery so he is back on.

 'In muscle injuries there is always a risk of it showing up again, but the medical department feel positive about it and the player is positive and he knows his body well.

'He has had an injection and the MRI scan showed only a grade one injury. Normally grade one injuries can take various days to recover depending on the player's body. We are happy with the development of his injury and the player feels well about his body and feels no pain.

'We believe a lot in the treatment. It is a technique that we have been using since the beginning of the season. It is not common but does happen from club to club.

'The player adhered to the treatment very, very well so we can move forward.'

Defoe's injury has resulted in Spurs stepping up their attempts to sign a new striker before Thursday's deadline. Alvaro Negredo and Leandro Damiao are both targets.

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