Ziege set for further surgery

Tottenham's German international defender Christian Ziege is to undergo further surgery Monday after an emergency operation on his right leg, Spurs manager Glenn Hoddle said.

Ziege is to have a 10-inch wound in his leg sealed after his thigh muscle swelled to double its usual size when he sustained an injury during Thursday's 2-2 draw with Charlton.

Ziege, who was sent-off in that match, was subsequently taken to hospital and missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat against Newcastle.

His chances of playing again this season appear slim although Hoddle indicated that may have been the least of Ziege's worries when he was taken into hospital.

"Christian has had an emergency operation on Boxing Day evening after what was a dead leg," he said.

"There is a medical term for it - decompartmentalisation of the muscle is the problem - and it grew to double the size, the leg, and he had to have this emergency operation.

"First and foremost was to get Christian in and dealt with because there were complications with the blood supply, and that can be very dangerous.

"That was always our first concern, and fortunately through Christian phoning our doctor and getting hold of it very quickly, it saved any sort of... well, I wouldn't like to go to the next part, but he's okay, he's had an operation and he'll be dealt with tomorrow.

"He's having the second part of the leg seen to. The muscle has grown to double the size and the pressure on it obviously stops the supply of blood and it had to be released.

"He's got a 10-inch scar now. He had to have it slit and released, but it's had to be kept open until the muscle goes down. It's one of those that can only be closed up whenever the right time is."

"I'm not concerned," the former England coach added. "It's a big blow football-wise, but first and foremost, it's his health that's more important.

"That will always come first in front of football, but I would think it would be very difficult for him to return before the end of the season, but

the major thing is that he's okay."