Tottenham’s Steven Pienaar sustains knee injury in training with South Africa

Steven Pienaar, Tottenham(Getty Images)

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Tottenham midfielder Steven Pienaar has been dealt a blow after sustaining a knee injury while training with South Africa.

The midfielder was preparing for his side’s African Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Egypt but limpd out of training early and now faces a race to be fit for the clash.

Pienaar was helped from the field at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg and given treatment on the sidelines, with coach Pitso Mosimane admitting afterwards that the influential midfielder is very doubtful for the match.

“He’s struggling. You all saw Steven went into a 50/50 with Happy and obviously sustained an injury on the inside of his right knee – the ligament,” Mosimane said to reporters at the training ground.

“We have two days before so let’s see. Maybe it will subside, you never know. I must wait and see what the doctor says. But these things happen – you get injured in training because this is a professional sport.”

He added, “I will wait until the last moment to take the decision, even if it is on the day of the match. I’m just going to try and not to be emotional about it.”

Pienaar had already been struggling with a persistent groin injury but admitted on Monday he had postponed an operation in order to take the field in Cairo against The Pharaohs.

“It wouldn’t be nice obviously if PIenaar is ruled out but my experience tells me things like this happen sometimes,” the coach said.

“We have 23 players in the squad and if he can’t be there then what can you do? It’s not nice but it’s okay. We have several players who aren’t here already and we have to deal with that.”