SPURS defender Jonathan Woodgate is more than happy to provide a sympathetic ear to skipper Ledley King.

Former Leeds and Real Madrid centre-half Woodgate has seen his own career hampered by a string of injuries over the years and knows exactly how team-mate King feels.

The Tottenham captain has missed much of the season with an ongoing knee problem and has also endured other minor knocks in recent weeks that have limited his chances.

And ex-Newcastle man Woodgate knows exactly the frustration King is going through.

"I speak to Ledley about it, knowing it's not a nice subject," Woodgate told the Sunday Times. "I'm sure he feels like I used to: 'Effing hell, is there any chance that this is ever going to stop?' There's nothing worse than when someone says to you, 'Are you injured again?' The 'again' bit really kills you. When I was at Middlesbrough, I nearly lost it once over that. I'd had a whack on my shin and I couldn't walk. I had an injection to try to play, but I couldn't.

"As I walked out of the treatment room, wearing a special protective boot, this steward said, 'What a shock'. I knew what he meant, and came very close to doing something I would have regretted. When you're injured, there's nothing worse than people coming out with sly comments like that. It's horrible, it does your head in. I'm fine now, I've just played five games in 15 days so there's no problem, and I'm sure Ledley will be all right, given time."