Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate

Tottenham defender Jonathan Woodgate underwent surgery in Australia earlier today in a bid to find a solution to his long-term groin injury problem.

The Tottenham defender's career is hanging in the balance after the latest operation that took place at midnight UK time.

The England international has made just three appearances this season as medics failed to get to the bottom of the groin problem that has been troubling him for some time.

A lengthy spell of treatment in the United States left the defender, 30, no nearer to a comeback.

But a trip Down Under saw him operated on for the second time in less than a year and manager Harry Redknapp was hopeful a solution had finally been found.

The Spurs manager, whose team take on Blackburn at White Hart Lane tomorrow, said: "Jonathan Woodgate has had an operation today out in Australia, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.

"He went to America and now he's in Australia seeing a specialist there. There were a couple of options but they feel they have the right answer now.The Australian people operated on him at midnight and I will ring him today to see how he is.

"There's no chance he will play again this season, though. He's going to spend the next three weeks in Australia recovering with the specialist."