Source: Sky Sports

Spurs striker fit again ahead of Sunderland clash.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has admitted he is unlikely to rush fit-again striker Jermain Defoe back into action against Sunderland this weekend.

Defoe has been sidelined for the last few weeks after suffering a hamstring injury in training following the 3-1 victory over Blackburn on 13th March.

The England international has made a swift recovery and is back in the Spurs squad for Saturday's showdown with the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

Redknapp's side have coped well in his absence, winning all three of their fixtures to progress to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and remain in pole position for fourth place and a UEFA Champions League berth.

Defoe's recovery has been aided by sleeping in an altitude chamber to speed up his comeback but he may have to settle for a place on the bench with further challenges on the horizon.

Testing

Spurs tackle Defoe and Redknapp's former club Portsmouth at Wembley for a place in the FA Cup final next weekend, before a testing run of successive fixtures against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

Redknapp confirmed that Defoe, who has found the net 17 times in the Premier League this term, was in contention this weekend.

But with several other options at his disposal, the North London boss could wait before bringing the diminutive forward back into the fray.

Redknapp said: "He's fit and available but I don't have to take a chance because I also have Peter Crouch, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Roman Pavlyuchenko."