5 October 2007, by Lorna Danion

Ricardo Rocha facing lengthy spell on the sidelines

Tottenham defender “played through pain barrier”

Tottenham Hotspur defender Ricardo Rocha is set for a three-month spell on the sidelines after undergoing an operation in Portugal to correct a long-term ankle injury.

The Portuguese has been suffering with the injury for much of his time in England, but having played through the pain barrier, the 28-year-old has sought to finally cure the problem.

“I have a small problem in the right ankle, which has been aggravated in these six months that I have been in England due to some knocks. There has been a constant pain there and it is now limiting me,” Rocha told Maisfutebol on Monday, before making himself available for his team’s match with Aston Villa that evening.

Rocha flew back to the Portuguese capital after the Villa game, accompanied by a club doctor, and was operated on by Antonio Martins, the orthopaedic surgeon from Benfica, who was chosen specifically by the player.

After having the operation on Tuesday, Rocha revealed that the predicted recovery time was longer than initially expected, and he will complete his rehabilitation in Portugal with Martins.

“The operation went well,” said Rocha on Wednesday. “Now I will get back fit and as quickly as possible. Initially I thought I would be out for between six to eight weeks. But things are a little worse and I probably won’t play for at least eight or ten weeks.”