Struggling Tottenham Hotspur could lose leading scorer Frederic Kanoute for up to four weeks after the striker said he had decided to play for Mali in next month's African Nations Cup.
"I should be going with Mali. I have decided to play for them and I have told the club," last night's Evening Standardnewspaper quoted the French-born player as saying.
However Spurs' caretaker coach David Pleat, who can ill afford to lose Kanoute as his team fight for their survival in the premier league, said the situation was not clear-cut.
"His decision to play for Mali has not been confirmed," he told the newspaper. "The matter is complicated. But it is a tester for him whether he wants to stay and fight.
"I don't think there is any way we can stop him going. We will have to see how the situation develops but obviously it is not in Freddie's or the club's interests for him to go."
Kanoute (26) has scored seven league goals for Tottenham this season and was selected by Mali coach Henri Stambouli in his preliminary squad of 32 for the finals starting in Tunisia on January 24th.
Although Kanoute has played for the French under-21 team, he is eligible to play for Mali under FIFA regulations.
Spurs slipped into the relegation zone on Sunday after losing 1-0 at home to Charlton Athletic.