Besiktas star striker out injured for Thursday's Europa clash with Tottenham

Demba Ba (whose name weirdly always calls to mind that song from Ferris Bueller's Day Off for me, and now hopefully will for you too) absolutely tortured Spurs' back line last time they faced Besiktas in the Europa League. But Younes, Vlad and the gang are in luck, as reports out of Turkey suggest the Senegalese striker will get the day off for Thursday's rematch after suffering a broken toe.

Obviously nobody wants to wish injury on opposition players, but given the two sides are battling it out for top spot in the group, anything that weakens Besiktas is good for Spurs. Since Demba Ba is probably one of only a handful of names in the squad most Spurs fans would recognize, not to mention only one goal shy of being the top scorer in the competition, his absence is very much a good thing for Tottenham. With Ba out of the side, Spurs will relish their chances of coming home from Turkey with a result.

Of course all this will count for nothing if Vlad Chiriches decides to give away a late penalty for a blatant and needless handball.