ANDY KING is studying his own injury list and that of Spurs boss Jacques Santini as he struggles to assemble a side to take on Luton Town at the County Ground tonight.

The manager is sweating on the fitness of Sammy Igoe, David Duke and Jerel Ifil ahead of the Hatters clash.

Hamstring, calf and thigh injuries threaten to keep all three on the sidelines as King's men seek to bounce back from their opening day defeat at Wrexham.

And just when the long-running Tottenham Hotspur saga looked to have turned in his favour, that too has kicked him in the proverbials or should that be snared him in the shoulder?

The Premiership club have finally provided King with a list of 'possible' loan players but the only one to fit the bill is currently injured.

Striker Lee Barnard is thought to be the man in question but a shoulder injury sustained in pre-season will keep him sidelined for at least six weeks.

It is hardly a scenario designed to bring a smile to King's face as he looks to get Town's campaign up and running.

Sadly, he knows two words in a contract mean he is not in a strong position to ease his frustration.

King said: "The words clearly stated in the contract are best endeavours.

"You tell me what 'best endeavours' means?

"They offered me some players yesterday who were no good to me.

"The one that was good to me has a dislocated shoulder, so that's actually no good to me either.

"I think this Tottenham saga will go on for ever.

"I think we'll still be talking about this in January."

While King cannot control events at White Hart Lane, he is keeping his fingers crossed that today brings better news on the injury front closer to home.

Neither Igoe, Duke or Ifil are facing lengthy absences and the manager was hoping that all three had shown improvement overnight.

He said: "Twenty four hours can be a long time in football so we'll see.

"Andy Nicholas and Lloyd Opara trained yesterday but Nicho needs a game and Opara could do with a flat out 90 minutes."

Whatever the Town side to take to the field tonight, the manager is looking for a winning blend."

The post Wrexham inquest focused on the attack-minded nature of the bulk of the players.

King said: "Maybe you can't entertain and be negative?

"We have personnel who are entertainers more than they're negative.

"They may not be conditioned to be negative and disciplined.

"What I try to do is get the happy medium. When they do find the happy medium they're a very, very good team.

"When they don't, they get beaten at Wrexham which shouldn't happen."

King was not expecting to add any new faces to his squad ahead of tonight's match but he remains upbeat.

He said: "There's still total belief in what can be done this season and we need a positive attitude and a performance to get things back on track."