Source: Daily_Mail
Disillusioned Roman Pavlyuchenko reassured by Harry Redknapp that he has a future at Spurs
Harry Redknapp has reassured Roman Pavlyuchencko that he has a future at Tottenham after the disillusioned striker raised doubts about whether the manager has faith in him. [LNB]Tottenham boss Redknapp admitted that Pavyluchenko's comments reflected a wider problem that he has in terms of keeping his fringe players happy.[LNB]Pavlyuchenko is worried about his lack of first-team opportunities with the World Cup coming up at the end of this season. Although he may be agitating for a move in January, Redknapp has no plans to offload him.[LNB]Redknapp said: 'I trust him. It's just a difficult time for him. Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane have been in great form. I think, techinically, Roman Pavlyuchenko is outstanding. But so are the other three.[LNB]'Pavlyuchenko is still very much in the frame here. He's got a future here. He's a good lad and player. I can't play them all. I can't play with four strikers. In January, his agents would be dealing with the chairman, not me.'[LNB] Reassured: Pavlyuchenko has been told he has a future at White Hart Lane[LNB]Another frustrated player in recent times has been David Bentley but Aaron Lennon's injury has given the former Blackburn midfielder a chance to stake his claim for a more regular role as long as he stays at Tottenham.[LNB] Bentley is set to face his former club Arsenal in the north London derby on Saturday afternoon. [LNB]Redknapp said: 'He's got so much ability. It would be such a waste if he didn't put that into his performances. When he's playing well, he's a real asset to the club. He looks in the right frame of mind and very sharp.'[LNB]Looking ahead to the derby itself - and reflecting on Tottenham's poor recent record against Arsenal - Redknapp added: 'I'm not into what has happened in the last ten years. It's about what happens this weekend. [LNB]'There have been years of Arsene Wenger doing a fantastic job there. They play fantastic football. We want to start producing our own players and bringing them into our first team from our youth team too.'[LNB]Redknapp could be boosted by Jonathan Woodgate's recovery from injury as the centre back trained on Friday morning. So did Ledley King, but he remains doubtful.[LNB]Tottenham will be without key players, though - including injured Lennon and Luka Modric. [LNB]Defoe is suspended. But the former West Ham manager has no fears about playing Arsenal now. [LNB]'Maybe they've got a bit more strength in depth than us,' he admitted, before adding: 'Playing them now is much better than when we went to the Emirates last year. We were struggling at the bottom. It's nice to be goinng there full of confidence. [LNB]'We've got a squad here capable of matching anybody on our day. We only know one way to play - that's to have a go and we have to impose ourselves on Arsenal.[LNB]'My record against Arsenal is not very good but nobody's is. If you ask most managers about their records against the top four then it's not going to be too great.'[LNB]He denied that the lack of English players will make this a less impassioned London derby than in previous years, saying: 'I think the foreigners sense the atmosphere. It's another big game for players who have played at top level - there are loads of international players, they know it's a derby game and the importance of that. We are there to please the fans, to send them home happy.' Redknapp opens door to possible move for 'world's best' FerdinandSpurs star Palacios has had to deal with murder and military coupsREDKNAPP AND TOWNSEND: Spurs can't kid us - Arsenal are still top gunsTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
