Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches has a taste for blood

TOTTENHAM’S defender with the same name as Dracula has been injected with his own blood to speed up his recovery from a knee injury.

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VLADMAN: Chiriches has received some unorthodox treatment in a bid to get him back to full fitness quickly [GETTY]

Vlad Chiriches could return sooner than expected after responding well to controversial blood ­spinning treatment.

The procedure, also known as PRP, involves a blood sample being spun in a centrifuge to increase the amount of platelet cells, which help the healing process.

The blood is then injected back into the patient’s body.

Romanian Chiriches, born not far from Dracula Vlad the Impaler’s Transylvanian castle, will miss ­tonight’s final Europa League group game against Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.

But boss Andre Villas-Boas said: “There’s a good possibility he will be available for the game against Liverpool on Sunday.

“He took a heavy knock to the knee (against Fulham last week) so it’s swollen up quite a lot.

“We’ve drained some blood from his knee, which was quite scary because there could have been some damage to the knee that was operated on before. We’ve used some PRP treatment and it has gone down.”

GO FOR IT: AVB wants Spurs to end their group stage with another victory [ANDREW COULDRIDGE/GETTY]

“Another win would be brilliant. It would complete a good group run”

Andre Villas-Boas

Blood spinning is controversial but not illegal and Spurs have used it in the past to get Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale back in ­action ahead of schedule.
Spurs will also use it on Jan ­Vertonghen, who will be in a protective boot for the next fortnight and likely to miss the Christmas schedule with an ankle ligament injury.

But left-back Danny Rose is set to make his comeback against Anzhi after being out since September.
Villas-Boas said: “We’ll also be looking to give Danny a couple of minutes after a three-and-a-half month absence.
“It is good news that we have him back and almost fit. He’ll need two or three games to get back to full fitness.”

Spurs are looking for a sixth Group K win from six against Anzhi.
Villas-Boas added: “Another win would be brilliant. It would complete a good group run.”
SPURS: Friedel; Naughton, ­Capoue, Fryers, Fredericks; ­Sandro, Dombaxe; Townsend, Sigurdsson, Lamela; Soldado.
Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden).