METAIRIE, La. -- Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has travelled to Philadelphia to have arthroscopic knee surgery, but how long hell be sidelined remains unclear, coach Sean Payton said Thursday night. "Well have him back and well kind of go from there," Payton said. The 31-year-old Vilma has had numerous surgeries on his left knee during the past two seasons. He missed five games in 2011 and started last season on the physically unable to perform list. However, Payton stopped short of saying he viewed Vilmas latest surgery as a setback. "This is a little different procedure, so well how he does when he gets back," the coach said. Vilma opened training camp working as a first-team middle linebacker in New Orleans 3-4 defence, but had missed a handful of practices lately. His absence will move veteran David Hawthorne, who was acquired as a free agent last season, up to the first team in advance of Friday nights preseason game against Oakland in the Superdome. Payton portrayed Vilmas absence during preseason as an opportunity to better evaluate other linebackers before coaches have to decide who to cut and who to keep as current 90-player roster is trimmed to 53 by the start of the regular season. "The most important thing is getting the chance to evaluate all these players," Payton said. "A guy like Jon Vilma, I know exactly what we have in that player. It gives us a chance to see not only Hawthorne more, but then if hes going earlier, the guys behind him are getting to play quicker, too." The 28-year-old Hawthorne started 10 games last season but was hampered by left knee and right hamstring injuries and said he is eager to show he can provide more support to his unit than he did a year ago. "I came here to play football and then when you get sidelined by injury after injury, it kind of gets you down, you know. You dont really know your place," Hawthorne said. "Thats kind of all behind me and Im feeling good and Im feeling healthy." Meanwhile, Curtis Lofton, the strong side middle linebacker, was absent from practice Thursday and Payton did not offer an explanation for that. Lofton practiced Wednesday without showing any apparent limitations. Ramon Humber worked in Loftons spot Thursday and sounded as if he expected more playing time against Oakland. "I definitely feel comfortable," Hawthorne said. "As a linebacker, you kind of have to learn the whole defensive system. You have to know what everybody is doing because youre the quarterback of the defence." Nike Sb Zalando . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Air Force 1 Bianche Offerte . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. http://www.airforce1justdoit.it/sb-scarpe-scontate.html . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Nike Presto x Off White Shop . It just didnt show when he hit the ice. Berra made 42 saves and Kris Russell scored at 1:32 of overtime, lifting the Calgary Flames to a 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night. Air Force 1 Just Do It Bianche . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement.Eric Dier says Tottenham have adjusted their ambitions and have now set their sights on winning the Premier League this season. Spurs are five points behind Leicester with seven games to play and will begin their assault on winning the clubs first top-flight title since 1961 with a trip to Liverpool on Saturday Night Football.Dier admits second place would have been seen as a success at the start of the season, but Mauricio Pochettino and the players are now aiming higher. There have already been some big weekends and there will be big weekends to come, he said in an exclusive interview with Soccer Saturday.Its the first of seven finals. Were looking forward to it and well go game-by-game, like we have all season. Its going to be a very tough match and great match for the neutral fans.If youd said to us at the beginning of the season youd finish second in the Premier League, I think everyone would be very happy.But now with the situation were in, we are an ambitious group, with an ambitious manager, and we want to do as well as we can.If thats finishing first then thats what we are going to go for. Dier says he always wanted to play for England Dier scored his first international goal last weekend, heading home the winner for England in Germany, during his fourth appearance for his country.He was joined in the squad by Spurs team-mates Harry Kane, Danny Rose, Kyle Walker and Dele Alli - as well as Leicester duo Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater.And he admitted the players couldnt help but discuss the excitement of their Premier League title battle. Eric Dier told Soccer Saturday that Tottenham have now set their sights on winning the Premier League We spoke a little bit about it, but not too much to be honest, he added.We had some jokes about it. It was all light-hearted and a bit of fun. We just spoke about how they were doinng, how we were doing, what they were feeling like and how we were feeling.dddddddddddd It was just normal causal conversation about it. Nothing too serious.Its a very exciting title race. The fans that dont support Tottenham, Leicester, Arsenal or Man City, theyre enjoying it because its a different title race to the norm. The fans that dont support Tottenham, Leicester, Arsenal or Man City, theyre enjoying it because its a different title race to the norm. Eric Dier For ourselves, its very enjoyable because its the first time being in this situation. Its a new experience but were enjoying it.Dier would not have been involved with England last week if he had accepted an approach to play international football for Portugal instead.He spent his childhood in Lisbon and came through the youth set-up at Sporting before joining Tottenham in 2014, but insists he always wanted to play for the country of his birth. Spurs and Leicester are the front-runners for the Premier League title When asked if he might have played for Portugal, he said: I had conversations about it out in Portugal when I was younger but there was never really any conversation where it was close to being done.In my mind, I always wanted to play for England. Its right for me to play for England.Both my parents are English. I was born in England so although I do feel Ive got some Portuguese in me, Im definitely English.Watch the full interview with Eric Dier on Soccer Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ and then tune in for Liverpool v Tottenham on Saturday Night Football from 5pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Jamie Redknapp on Dele Alli Liverpool v Tottenham preview Poch vows to fight Title race predicted ' ' '