Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs flop Pavlyuchenko may miss out on World Cup as Guus gets tough
Frustration: Spurs striker Pavlyuchenko[LNB]Guus Hiddink has warned that Roman Pavlyuchenko could miss out on going to the World Cup if the striker cannot secure first-team football. [LNB]The Russia boss has included the Tottenham Hotspur striker in his squad for the World Cup qualifying play-off against Slovenia, but only intends to use him from the bench. [LNB]And with Pavlyuchenko reduced to just 78 minutes of Premier League football this season, Hiddink has warned that the 27-year-old could miss out on South Africa 2010 all together. [LNB]'Yes, there is that danger,' Hiddink told Russian newspaper Sport Express. 'It will depend on other strikers. I'm not going to take six forwards for one position.' [LNB]Hiddink has made difficult decisions before. The Dutchman left Alexander Kerzhakov out of his Euro 2008 squad at a time when the striker was Russia's most famous striker, but struggling at Sevilla. [LNB]'A similar situation could arise in 2010 and Roman should remember this,' said Hiddink. 'But we know how Pavlyuchenko can improve in the run-up to the World Cup.[LNB] 'When we began preparing for Euro 2008, he was not in good form. But with three to four weeks of heavy training he lost four kilos and put himself in a position that allowed him to perform well at the European Championship.' [LNB] Hiddink recently visited Tottenham training and spoke to Redknapp about Pavlyuchenko's future. [LNB]'Everyone knows the situation is far from ideal,' said Hiddink. 'Of course, Pavlyuchenko is not pleased that he's not playing. But this is England and in England you have to earn the right to play. Competing with (Jermain) Defoe, Robbie Keane and (Peter) Crouch is no joke. [LNB]'Yes, he has played in the League Cup, but he isn't getting constant match practice. [LNB]'Redknapp is pleased with Roman and believes he is talented player who has no pretensions as a professional. But in the English Premier League you have to constantly prove your class. The coach would like to see a more powerful competitive spirit from him. [LNB] 'As for his future plans, you must ask Pavlyuchenko. I don't have the right to make the decision. He has a contract with the club. But it is important for Roman to play. If he doesn't play for club and country, he will surely lose his rhythm. Without it, he might be able to get through an ordinary game, but not a hard-fought match.' [LNB] National service: Pavlyuchenko was in fine form up to and during Euro 2008[LNB]There would be no shortage of suitors should Pavlyuchenko want to move on in January and Redknapp has admitted he will listen to offers. [LNB]Zenit St Petersburg and his former club Spartak Moscow are keen to take him home, while Birmingham City, Fulham and West Ham United are also reportedly interested.[LNB] A poor command of English has been blamed for Pavlyuchnenko's struggle to fit in at Spurs since a £13.8million move from Spartak Moscow in 2008, but Hiddink says the striker's language skills are improving. [LNB] In charge: Russia boss Hiddink (left) and White Hart Lane chief Redknapp[LNB]'I had a little talk with him in English,' said Hiddink. 'I often say to our young players: "You travel a lot, stay in hotels and have a lot of free time. Use this time to learn English. If every day you listen to it for half an hour and remember the words, you will have a totally different place at ease in the world".' [LNB]Hiddink also used a recent trip to England to catch up with his Russia captain Andrey Arshavin and watched Chelsea play Atletico Madrid with the Arsenal star and Arsene Wenger. [LNB]Everton boss David Moyes has also delivered a glowing report on Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who has impressed at Goodison Park since making a £10m move from Lokomotiv Moscow that surprised many in Russia. [LNB]Impressive: Bilyaletdinov has made his mark[LNB]'I think that Bilyaletdinov is underestimated in Russia,' said Hiddink. 'Many people in recent years believed that he was a weak player. But in England, they found out that he isn't.' [LNB]The 24-year-old sat out Everton's 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday, serving the first of a three-match ban for being sent off against Wolverhampton Wanderers. [LNB]'I would call him a typical left-footer with an interesting take on the game,' said Hiddink. 'And now he's getting better and better, so it's particularly unfortunate that he's been suspended. [LNB]'He's getting used to the relentless games (in England), where the game is played at a high pace for 90 minutes.' [LNB] Welcome break to help Spurs linchpin Ledley deal with fresh injury blowTottenham 2 Sunderland 0: Black Cats robbed by Spurs after Gomes heroicsTHE LIST: Football's greatest penalty kings - Nos 50-41England boss Fabio Capello rules out Ledley from England World Cup plansSpurs boss Redknapp backs poacher Defoe for golden bootTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
