Injuries to Younes Kaboul and Scott Parker have been compounded by the news that Emmanuel Adebayor has a hamstring injury and Benoit Assou-Ekotto could miss up to a month with a knee injury.

Kyle Naughton filled in impressively for the injured Cameroonian against Reading, and Villas-Boas has faith in his squad's depth and quality to compete.

"We're struggling with recent injuries and with two more important players out we have been limited in terms of what we can do," Villas-Boas told reporters ahead of Lazio's visit to White Hart Lane in the Europa League.

"Luckily, in terms of midweek games, we are starting from now.

"The squad has a lot of players we cannot count on. But we have 18 available and between them we have enough quality to take us through the initial stages of the competition.

"But we understand it's important to realise the relationship between rest and playing time. We have to be very careful from now on."