Van der Vaart out for six weeks
Saturday, September 3, 2011
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Tottenham Hotspur FC will be without Rafael van der Vaart for at least their first two group stage games after the Netherlands playmaker was ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring tear.
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Tottenham Hotspur FC midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will be sidelined for six weeks with a hamstring tear.
The Netherlands playmaker suffered the injury in last weekend's 5-1 defeat by Manchester City FC in the Premier League. Van der Vaart is now certain to miss Spurs' opening two UEFA Europa League group stage games, at PAOK FC on 15 September and at home to Shamrock Rovers FC a fortnight later. Harry Redknapp's side host FC Rubin Kazan at White Hart Lane on 20 October.
Van der Vaart also looks set to be absent for the Netherlands' final three UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers. The Oranje face Finland on Tuesday before taking on Moldova and Sweden next month.