(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
The upcoming Premiership clash between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur has been cast under a cloud after it emerged that late last night, Hammers defender Callum Davenport, was attacked in his home and left in a serious state after he was stabbed repeatedly in his legs.
Davenport, 26, and his mother are both in a serious but stable condition after being stabbed at their home in Bedford on Friday night.
The defender joined West Ham from Tottenham for £3m in 2007 and he is well known to both sets of players as they prepare for Sunday's match.
He had a spell on loan for Sunderland last season and also played for Coventry City.
A West Ham spokesman said: "The club's medical team are in contact with hospital staff.
"The thoughts of everyone at West Ham are with Calum and his family and, due to the on-going investigation, no further information will be released."
On the eve of the match Davenport underwent what is believed to be a major operation on his legs and medical staff now say that he is in a serious but stable condition.
In their on-going investigation, Police arrested two men in Derby on Saturday afternoon, both men will remain in custody on suspicion of "attempted murder" while they help Police with their investigation.
For the two teams, picking themselves up for this game will be no easy matter.
West Ham go into this match with having not played since last weekend, unlike Spurs who hammered Hull 5-1 at the KC on Wednesday night.
Gianfranco Zola enjoyed a good first season with the Hammers, who played some very attractive football with a whole host of graduates from their famed Academy.
There should only be one change to the team that beat Wolves last week as left full Herita Illunga misses out with a jaw injury that he picked up in training mid week.
James Collins is expected to be named in the match squad despite West Ham and Stoke having agreed upon a £5m move during the week, only for the player to pull the plug on the transfer after he could not agree personal terms.
The cancellation had further ramifications for West Ham as it meant that Gianfranco Zola had to pull out of the proposed transfer of Marouane Chamakh from Bourdeaux as the club did not have the funds to meet the £7m asking price.
The minute Italian is also coming under pressure from their Icelandic owners who are believed to be demanding that key players be sold so that they can re-coup £10m of the monies they are owed from the purchasing deal for the club.
Harry Redknapp goes back to his old stomping ground knowing that he will get a hostile reception, as will Jermaine Defoe.
Spurs are riding high in the league after they won their opening two fixtures for the first time in 14 years. The team is full of confidence after they well beat a poor Liverpool team at White Hart Lane on the opening weekend and then followed that up with a Jermaine Defoe inspired demolition of Hull midweek.
Heurelho Gomes will definitely miss out after he pulled a groin muscle in the midweek demolition resulting with David Button being recalled from his loan move to Crewe so that he can be understudy to Carlo Cudicini.
In defence, Ledley King's knees should be well rested and he should resume his partnership with Sebastian Bassong in the centre.
We're going to send you the most entertaining Tottenham Hotspur articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
1 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete