Fear set in among many supporters as news broke on Sunday that circumstances surrounding Ledley King's injury at Everton made the defender more than doubtful to face Manchester United on Easter Monday.
Newcastle away was still on the minds of many, when King's ankle had gone in training the day before the trip to the north-east. Anthony Gardner came in and was found to be off the pace as the home side bombarded the makeshift defence from the outset.
Michael Carrick, who's chances of getting a game in the World Cup will ironically improve if King doesn't recover from his metatarsal injury in time to be included this summer, said: "He has been such an influential player for us."
King was minutes away from completing a second 90 minutes alongside Gardner at the centre of Tottenham's defence, with Michael Dawson completing his suspension when an innocuous challenge for the ball with James Beattie, resulted in the Tottenham captain needing assistance to leave the field of play.
Furthermore, Gardner fell victim to a shin injury and Martin Jol was forced to bring in Calum Davenport for the first time, paired alongside the returning Dawson against United, and presumably for the run in. The England Under 21 international signed from Coventry City in 2004 had come on as a substitute for the closing stages as a third centre back against Everton, before King was forced off.
Source: The Sun