Jamie O’Hara is set to miss the start of Tottenham’s pre-season due to a stress fracture in his back.
The midfielder, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth could miss Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea due to the problem, if a a pain-killing injection does not work.
O’Hara is also wary of his long-term health if he is not feeling one hundred per cent.
“I played 45 minutes on Sunday and there was a bit of pain, and I am having another injection on Tuesday to hopefully clear it up for the game on Saturday,” O’Hara said.
“I am not sure what is going on, and will have a big decision to make towards the end of the week whether to pull myself out of it for the sake of maybe a longer-term injury, or to just go for it and see what happens.
“I would love to play, but it has come to the point now where I am really struggling and can’t do anything, which is the most frustrating thing.
“I can get around, but it is not how you want to be going into a cup final.”
O’Hara added: “To play in such a massive game, I would not want to jeopardise the team by going out there half-fit.
“I have got two fractures on the lower part of my spine and if it was any other time of the season, it is eight weeks out.
“After this, I will be out for a couple of months, and then it will just be rest because it is a stress fracture.
“We have had a scan already, and Spurs are looking towards a longer-term injury. Speaking to the doctors, it can be a serious one if you keep playing on it, and you could be looking at a year out.
“I have got to be careful what I do, but with the injections, the doctors said one more game would not be a problem.
“I have been speaking to Spurs and they are not wanting to stop me in any way, but are looking at it longer-term going back.
“I am going to miss some of pre-season, and will be trying to get myself right for the start.”