PRAGUE (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur's winning return to European action was soured on Thursday by the news that England winger Aaron Lennon could be out for up to six weeks with a knee injury that will require surgery.

Lennon, who missed Tottenham's 1-0 UEFA Cup first round, first leg victory at Slavia Prague, suffered a slight tear in the cartilage of his right knee in training last Friday.

The teenager, who made a big impact at the World Cup, will almost certainly miss England's Euro 2008 qualifying ties against Macedonia and Croatia next month.

Tottenham's Dutch coach Martin Jol said he had been hoping Lennon could avoid an operation.

"He is a young guy and we thought he might be able to get away without surgery but he has had more pain and the doctors have decided he will go in for an operation on Saturday," Jol told reporters.

"He could be out of action for six weeks."