Carr close to comeback

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR'S forgotten man Stephen Carr is close to returning to full training after seven months out with a knee injury.

Carr has been sidelined with the problem since July and has gradually been stepping up his rehabilitation to the extent that he is running and kicking a ball again.

The 25-year-old is now setting his sights on a first team comeback before the curtain comes down on the campaign, providing he avoids another setback.

"I'd like to think the way things are going that I'll be back in full training in a couple of weeks so yes, I'll be back before the end of the season as long as I don't break down," Carr told the club's official website.

"It would be stupid now after nearly seven months out to rush the final part. It's hard because you want to get back, especially when you feel you can do a bit more.

"You just have to hold yourself back. I don't want to ruin it now."

Carr has missed out on Spurs' march to the Worthington Cup final, and also their progress to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

He is also in danger of missing out on the Republic of Ireland's World Cup challenge in the summer, after previously being a regular in Mick McCarthy's plans.

But after a White Hart Lane career that has been relatively injury-free, Carr revealed that being sidelined made him take stock of his situation.

"I've got a taste of the other side and at the end of the day, you are nothing. I understand that. It goes for everything in life," he added.

"When things are going well everyone wants a piece of you and then when they aren't going so well, people step back a bit. You have to accept that.

"It just makes you want to get back to what you had before and makes you appreciate walking out in front of 35,000 because, looking back, I might have taken it for granted being in the squad.

"No, that's wrong, I didn't take it for granted but it makes you appreciate the profession you are in and how lucky you are.

"It's taught me one or two things. It makes you think about things. I suppose injury has its good and bad aspects."