Huddlestone was hurt following a challenge by Everton's John Heitinga during Spurs' victory at White Hart Lane and is understood to be progressing well in recovery and is not considered a long-term absentee, although no date has been set for his comeback. Redknapp needs Huddlestone back as Wilson Palacios is his only fit out-and-out central midfielder, with Jermaine Jenas back training with the first team following groin surgery but not ready to return for the weekend trip to Stoke. Spurs manager Redknapp has been impressed with Palacios' discipline while on nine bookings for the season and knowing another yellow card would leave his squad with no available central midfielders. There are no such selection problems in attack, with Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Peter Crouch and Eidur Gudjohnsen competing for a place in Redknapp's starting XI. Pavlyuchenko is the in form striker with eight goals in six games as Spurs look to maintain their place in the Premier League top four. "He could be the key," said centre-back Sebastien Bassong. "Why not? We have a very good squad, and this can help us go even further in the Premier League. I think we can reach the Champions League. "It will be good for us if we manage it, because I think we deserve to be in it. "We have been doing well since the start of the season, and if we continue to play that way, we can achieve what we want."
