Carlo injured and Pav wants to quit

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Tottenham suffered a double blow on Thursday after goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini fractured his wrists and injured his pelvis in a serious road accident and striker Roman Pavlyuchenko announced he wants to quit the club.

Cudicini was admitted to hospital after his BMW superbike collided with a Ford Fiesta on Forest Road, Walthamstow, east London at 10.30am this morning.

The 36-year-old goalkeeper’s injuries were initially described by the police as ‘possibly life-changing’ but despite initial fears, the player has not fractured his pelvis.

A police spokesperson confirmed: “A 36-year-old male suffered injuries described as possibly life-changing and was taken to an east London hospital for further assessment and treatment.”

A spokesperson for Tottenham, who later confirmed the Italian’s injuries, said: “We can confirm Carlo Cudicini was involved in a road accident this morning.

“The club doctor is with him at hospital where we await the result of scans and tests.”

The female driver and a child passenger walked away from the car, which was described as a ‘write off’, and did not require hospital treatment.

Cudicini arrived at White Hart Lane last January on a free transfer following a decade at Chelsea.

The Italian has made eight appearances this season and only last month said he was keen to stay beyond the end of the campaign, when his contract expires.

“My contract is about to expire, but I would be happy to remain at Tottenham,” he said.

“However, I would consider Italian clubs if that wasn’t possible.”

He made his name at Chelsea joining the club from Castel Di Sangro in 1999, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal.

He was first choice for four seasons at Stamford Bridge before the arrival of Petr Cech.

Cudicini will now be lucky to play again this season and Spurs are expected to release further details of the extent of his injuries in the next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenko wants showdown talks with boss Harry Redknapp and will demand he is sold in January.

The striker has failed to settle at White Hart Lane and fears his lack of first-team action could cost him a place in Russia’s squad for next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

“I want to leave the club,” Pavlyuchenko said.

“It is impossible to remain there under the circumstances I find myself in.

“I have been sitting on the subs’ bench for half a year and as a result lost a place in the starting 11 of the national team, and now hopefully we will get to the World Cup – who will rely on a forward who does not play?

“I want to play and not just warm the bench.”

Russia coach Guus Hiddink has already warned the striker – now fourth choice at Spurs behind Robbie Keane, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe – that he could miss out all together if he is not playing regularly.

Pavlyuchenko cost Spurs £14 million from Spartak Moscow in August 2008, but he has made just six appearances in all competitions for Spurs this season, scoring one goal, and has lost his place in the Russia team.

Hiddink’s side take on Slovenia in their World Cup play-off in Moscow on Saturday with a place at the World Cup at stake.

Pavlyuchenko will then express to Redknapp his desire to depart Spurs.

“Immediately after the games with Slovenia, my agent and I are flying to London for purposeful negotiations and I want to take part in them personally,” he told Russia’s Sport Express newspaper.

“I will ask the management to quote a reasonable price for me.

“Our manager, Harry Redknapp, does not talk to me on the matter.

“At the start of the season, our manager said that four forwards is exactly the optimal number, but now he states that three is enough. I am the fourth one so it is obvious that I should part with the club.

“The only thing that can stand in the way is unmanageable price, but I will insist on leaving.

“The important thing now is to reach a compromise that will be suitable for the club and me, and my future club.”

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