SPORTS

Defoe to miss Tottenham finale with injury, start with Toronto FC unclear

The Canadian Press Published Wednesday, February 26, 2014 10:39PM EST

Tottenham's Jermain Defoe controls the ball during their English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace at the White Hart Lane stadium in London Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014. (AP / Alastair Grant)

Text:

TORONTO -- Toronto FC might have to wait to see expensive new striker Jermain Defoe in action.

Defoe will miss his last game as a member of English Premier League team Tottenham with what is reported to be a hamstring injury.

Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood confirmed to reporters that Defoe will not be fit for Thursday's Europa Cup match with Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. He will say his goodbye to Spurs fans at halftime.

What this means for Toronto FC is not yet clear as the severity of the injury is unknown.

Defoe is expected to join the Major League Soccer club over the weekend.

The 31-year-old forward signed a four-year deal with Toronto in January worth a reported 90,000 pounds (C$165,255) a week.

Toronto meanwhile traded midfielder Matias Laba to the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday in exchange for future considerations.

The 22-year-old started in all 16 appearances he made for Toronto and scored once.

"Matias is a great pro and great person, but given our recent acquisitions, we were faced with the reality that he would not be able to play with TFC this season," said Toronto general manager Tim Bezbatchenko in a statement.