Everton-Tottenham Hotspur Preview

Feb 26, 2010 - 5:59 PM JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Tottenham's preparations for the important clash with Everton on Sunday have been hit by a stomach virus which forced the club to close their Chigwell training ground.

Tottenham players Vedran Corluka and Wilson Palacios have both been laid low by the bug which swept through the club's academy where 18 players and coaches were sent home ill.

Manager Harry Redknapp said: "The players were put in quarantine and ordered to stay away for 48 hours.

"We have had a virus and although we were able to carry on training there, everything else was off limits \2013 offices, cafeteria, the lot.

"I don't think it has disrupted our build up to the Everton game but it is spreading and I don't know if other players are going to be affected between now and Sunday."

Redknapp has problems other than illness with key strikers Jermain Defoe nursing a hamstring injury and Peter Crouch receiving treatment for a bruised ankle.

But the revitalised Roman Pavlyuchenko is starting to prove Redknapp has been premature in writing him off.

Russia international Pavlyuchenko was expecting to be sold in the January transfer window but the deadline came and went and now he has been restored to the team.

Pavlyuchenko is still waiting to start his first league of the season but his three goals in the two FA Cup ties with Bolton have stated a case for a starting chance.

Pavlyuchenko has scored six goals in all competitions this season but from only three starts.

Redknapp said: "Roman has done well when he has come on and got some important goals. Now that he realises he will get a chance he is working hard and looking sharp. It's up to him, really."

Redknapp believes Spurs have a great chance of finishing in the top four to earn a place in the Champions League but faces fierce competition for the fourth place behind Chelsea. Manchester United and Arsenal.

"Compared to ourselves and Aston Villa I still believe there is more pressure on Liverpool and Manchester City when you consider what they have spent."

Everton's recent surge up the Premier League table, culminating in the win over champions Manchester United last weekend, has come too late for them to be thinking in terms of the Champions League.

David Moyes' team were knocked out of the Europa League this week by Sporting Lisbon so that further progress in the Premier League is all that remains.

Everton boss Moyes said: "Our performance against Manchester United was tremendous but we were far less impressive in Lisbon and we got what we deserved in the end.

"I still think there is enough of the season left for us to finish in the top six or so. There is great confidence in the squad and some important players have come back from long-term injuries."