Huddlestone to miss three months after ankle surgery
Huddlestone will be out of action until the New Year
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Tom Huddlestone is to undergo surgery on an ankle problem which will rule him out for three months.
The 23-year-old will miss some key Champions League and Premier League fixtures and the busy Christmas period.
The decision to go under the knife came following an extensive consultation.
"Following consultation with several independent ankle specialists, it has been determined that Tom Huddlestone will undergo surgery," said the club.
The England international has been a virtual ever-present this season with 16 appearances.
But in recent weeks he had seen his game time limited because of the ankle problem, which has required a series of injections.
The former Derby midfielder joins a growing injury list at White Hart Lane, which has already left manager Harry Redknapp without the likes of Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Jermain Defoe, Jonathan Woodgate, Aaron Lennon, Jamie O'Hara and Robbie Keane.
The loss of Huddlestone comes ahead of Saturday's north London derby at Arsenal and he will also miss Premier League games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.
In addition, he will be absent from two key European games against Werder Bremen and FC Twente in the coming weeks, with a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League at stake.
Should Spurs progress to the last 16, Huddlestone would be hopeful of featuring, with those fixtures due to begin in mid-February.
Meanwhile, his Tottenham team-mate Younes Kaboul has been called into the France squad for Wednesday's friendly against England at Wembley.
The defender, who has yet to win his first cap, got the call after Roma's Philippe Mexes injured a calf muscle.
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