Tottenham: Disappointment As Andros Townsend Misses World Cup
By Logan Holmes
Andros Townsend has suffered a disappointing end to the season with the news that he will miss out on the World Cup Finals in Brazil due to injury.
Andros Townsend is to undergo surgery today on the injury sustained last weekend against Stoke City. Townsend had come on for Aaron Lennon for the final 12 minutes of the game as Spurs looked to hold on against 10-man Stoke. Within minutes, Townsend was caught in a tackle which went unpunished and necessitated immediate attention. When he returned to the pitch, as Spurs had used all their substitutes, he could do no more than hobble around, obviously in great pain and discomfort.
The news broke on Wednesday that Townsend requires surgery on his left ankle having damaged ligaments. According to the Tottenham website, it is thought that he will be out for 10 weeks.
Disappointment
This will be a great disappointment for Townsend as he will miss the World Cup finals having had such an influential part in securing England’s place in Brazil with his performances in the final qualifying games in the autumn.
Apart from his early success with England, this has been a disappointing season for Townsend as he has had only limited opportunity in the Spurs team due to injury and failing to persuade Tim Sherwood that he is worthy of selection.
Last year started so well for Townsend who impressed with Queen’s Park Rangers having joined them on loan in January, 2013. While QPR failed to avoid relegation, Townsend took the chance to demonstrate what he was capable of achieving in the Premier League. It was those performances which drew the attention of the England coach, Roy Hodgson, bringing talk of a call-up to the early season England squad even though he wasn’t guaranteed a place in the Tottenham team.
Andros Townsend [Photo: Jav The_DoC_66]Townsend had to withdraw from the England squad for last summer’s Under-21 European Championships due to a ban imposed by the Football Association for betting irregularities but he returned at the start of the season looking to carry on from where he had left off the previous season.
Having sat out the opening Premier League game at Crystal Palace, Townsend showed his ability in the Europa League against Dinamo Tbilisi in Russia. He scored an individual goal and created two others as he was a constant problem for the home defenders. With Aaron Lennon out injured, this was an opportunity to stake a claim for a starting place in Andre Villas-Boas team. He troubled the Swansea defence and won the penalty which brought Spurs their second win and it was looking good for the young winger.
With vital World Cup games to win, Hodgson opted for Townsend and he responded to the challenge. He was in the England squad for the September internationals and made his debut against Montenegro the following month. He was involved in England’s first goal and scored the third, being named ‘Man of the Match’. He played in the next game against Poland as England secured their place in the Finals.
In his next game he scored his first Premier League goal for Spurs at Aston Villa but then towards the end of Andre Villas-Boas’ time with Spurs, as results disappointed, he lost his place to Aaron Lennon. Restored by Tim Sherwood for his first game, an injury kept him out until mid-February. Since his return he has only started two games in the Premier League and none since the home defeat by Arsenal in mid-March.
It has been a frustrating season for Townsend who was everyone’s favourite to make the England squad for the World Cup after his exciting displays in the autumn. With limited opportunities recently, his place was certainly in doubt but now injury has confirmed he won’t be taking part in the Finals in Brazil.