Modric more important than ever as Tottenham lose key playmaker

Harry Redknapp will not be a happy man this morning after hearing his star playmaker will be out with a hamstring injury for up to six weeks.

Rafael van der Vaart played no part in Holland’s 11-0 mauling of San Marino on Friday night because of a hamstring tear he picked up in Tottenham Hotspur’s 5-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

Van der Vaart was visibly annoyed with his bench during that game as complaints about his hamstring were ignored by the Tottenham staff before he stormed off the pitch in anger, leaving Tottenham to play out the end of the game with 10 men.

Scott Parker’s arrival at White Hart Lane is now all the more important and after playing a big role in England’s 3-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday, his presence in the middle of the park will allow Luka Modric to take on van der Vaart’s role.

While van der Vaart may only be out for the next six weeks of a long season, Redknapp and Daniel Levy’s decision to hold on to Modric at all costs would now seem a brilliant one.

Modric has taken some stick from the White Hart Lane faithful because of his actions over the summer, but the Croatian now has the next six weeks to win the fans back and Tottenham will need him at his best if they are to mount a top four challenge.

The next six weeks worth of fixtures throw up some tricky ties for Tottenham including Liverpool at home, Arsenal at home and three Europa League matches.

Throw in a League Cup tie at home to Stoke and it could well be a defining six weeks of football for Tottenham and the loss of van der Vaart will be a real blow.