Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho has been ruled out for four weeks with an ankle problem caused by Charlie Adam's apparent horror tackle.

The Brazilian midfielder, returning from a three-game ban, limped off after an hour of the 3-0 victory over Stoke City on Sunday after being caught on the foot by an over-the-top tackle from Adam, which went unpunished.

A scan taken on Monday showed that Tottenham's £17m summer signing, who has started all of the club's Premier League games when he has been available, had suffered severe ligament damage, but will not need surgery as first feared.

According to The Mirror, Spurs are furious that Adam was allowed to escape without being reprimanded, particularly considering that the Scottish international has previous involving Lillywhites players.

He was booed onto the field at White Hart Lane this weekend, with Spurs fans seemingly yet to forgive him for his season-ending tackle on Gareth Bale two seasons ago, and another nasty challenge on the Welshman in a pre-season friendly.