Tottenham's defensive injury crisis has deepened with the news that Alan Hutton needs knee surgery and is set to miss the rest of the season.
The former Rangers man, who has made 27 appearances for the White Hart Lane club this term, tore his cartilage in training on Thursday.
A short statement on Spurs' website read: "Alan Hutton is to undergo knee surgery after scans confirmed the defender had torn his lateral meniscus.
"The Scotland international injured his knee in training on Thursday and the operation is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season."
The news comes as a bitter blow to Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, who is already without a number of defenders as he prepares for Tuesday's daunting Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate and Younes Kaboul are all injured while William Gallas, who signed a new contract with the club earlier this week, is also a doubt.
Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong are Redknapp's only two fit natural centre-halves, while Hutton's rival at right-back, Vedran Corluka, can also play there if needed.
