Hoddle confident of Ziege comeback

Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle said he was confident his German full-back Christian Ziege would be playing again before the end of the season.

The World Cup star's season looked to be over following the serious thigh injury he sustained against Charlton in December. He underwent an emergency operation after complaining of severe pain in a thigh muscle that had grown to twice its normal size.

There were fears that the player's damaged leg would have to be amputated because the blood supply to his muscle had ceased. Hoddle admitted that if the player had delayed telephoning the club doctor for a few more hours, then his future in the game would have been threatened.

But the Spurs manager now says Ziege is on course for a remarkable return to first team action.

The 30-year-old's return will be a massive boost for the player, who was left with a 10-inch (25 cm) scar following surgery.

"Christian is showing really good signs," Hoddle said.

"He is already playing small-sided games in training and is another two or three weeks away from a game of some sort.

"After that injury we all thought that was the end of the season for him, but you have to give credit to the player and everybody else involved because he has got back very quickly.

"Ziege's problem was termed as decompartmentalisation and can be life-threatening if the blockage is not dealt with swiftly.

"His thigh had to be cut to release the pressure on his muscle and the wound was left open until the danger had ceased."

Ziege underwent surgery in a London clinic, but he has since been having extensive treatment in Munich.

Hoddle said he was just weeks away from a reserve team outing.

Ziege is determined to get back before the end of the season, but does not want to push himself too much in case of setbacks.

"My thigh muscles are coming on nicely. Along with my cardiovascular exercises I have also started training with the ball," Ziege said.

"I will also be training with Spurs reserves for 45 minutes every morning after which I will do my running in the afternoons. I am aiming to get back at the beginning of April."

His season had already been plagued by a long-term calf injury and he had only just returned to first-team action before the thigh problem.