Harry Redknapp: Tottenham Hotspur is short on defenders
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has revealed that the club is suffering from a lack of recognised central defenders ahead of their League Cup match with Arsenal tomorrow.
Redknapp was already without Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate due to long-term injuries, and Younes Kaboul and Vedran Corluka have joined those two on the absentees’ list over the last few days after picking up minor knocks.
Captain Ledley King is unable to play more than once per week, so he has also been ruled out and summer arrival William Gallas is still working his way back to match fitness.
As a result, Redknapp revealed today that he has been left with only Sebastien Bassong, youngster Steven Caulker and Tom Huddlestone (who is better known as a midfielder), as options to fill the berths in the middle of the defensive line.
He told Sky Sports News that, "We've got lots of centre-halves here. We were almost overloaded a week ago. Suddenly, you lose Kaboul to a hamstring on Saturday, Corluka has got a back injury, Michael Dawson is out long-term and so suddenly you're
down to three central defenders. Ledley can't play Saturday and mid-week, William Gallas has just come in and I have to be careful with him."
Redknapp’s disappointment at having so few options at the back of the pitch has been tempered by the form of his star summer arrival Rafael van der Vaart. The Holland international, who was signed from Real Madrid on the transfer deadline day for a fee of
eight million pounds, has been playing well and capped off his good run with a goal in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the weekend.
Though Van der Vaart will not play in tomorrow’s game due to a knock, Redknapp said that he has been “delighted” with him so far and added that, “He's a top class footballer and can play off the front, wide or in central positions. He's got a great left
foot and is a top professional. I couldn't be more pleased with him.”
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