AVB Defends Tottenham Medics

[Folami David]

Andre Villas-Boas has defended Tottenham Hotspur's medical staff after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was given the all- clear to resume playing despite losing consciousness against Everton on Sunday.
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Lloris, who returned to training on Wednesday, collided with Everton's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku in the latter stages of the Premier League stalemate and played on after pitchside medical checks.
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The former Olympique Lyon keeper is expected to play for Tottenham against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League on Thursday.
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"I stand absolutely by the decision I took and I stand by the decision that the medical department took following the checks they made on the player, all according to the book," Villas-Boas told a news conference on Wednesday.
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"I stand by the decision that gave us the green light for the player to continue."
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The former Chelsea boss added that club doctor Shabaaz Mughal and physio Geoff Scott had helped to save the life of Bolton Wanderers player Fabrice Muamba when he suffered a cardiac arrest at White Hart Lane in March 2012.
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"Two people in the medical department that two years ago saved the life of a footballer on the pitch have been completely forgotten, poorly treated, badly respected by lots of opinion makers," he said.
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Villas-Boas, who managed Lukaku when he was in charge at Stamford Bridge, questioned whether the striker could have done more to avoid hurting Lloris.
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"I want to believe that Lukaku's leg was not left to clash into Hugo's head," he said.
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"I find it remarkable that nobody has dedicated themselves to find out if the player could have avoided the goalkeeper and I'm disappointed that Lukaku hasn't contacted Hugo.