Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Redknapp relief as Michael Dawson return eases Tottenham's defensive injury crisis
Healed: Spurs defender Michael Dawson[LNB]Tottenham centre-back Michael Dawson's return from injury has handed Harry Redknapp a timely boost to help ease the defensive crisis at White Hart Lane. [LNB]Spurs boss Redknapp saw Ledley King pick up a hamstring problem against Chelsea at the weekend and Sebastien Bassong suffered head, neck and knee injuries, while Jonathan Woodgate could require further surgery on the groin complaint that has kept him out all season. [LNB]Dawson, who has not played since April, has recovered from his damaged Achilles and the 25-year-old could play for an hour at Preston tomorrow in the third round of the Carling Cup. [LNB]'Michael is in the squad and I might look to give him an hour - that is as much as we can expect from him as he's been out for a long time,' Redknapp said. 'We don't want to break him down again. It's good to have him back. He is a fantastic boy and a good player.'[LNB]It is unclear when Redknapp's other three centre-backs will return, although there are hopes of Bassong coming back for Saturday's clash against Burnley. 'Ledley's injury is going to keep him out for a while, Jonathan Woodgate has had an injection and we'll give it 10 days to see if that will clear his problem - if not he'll have surgery,' Redknapp continued. [LNB] 'He's already had surgery so I don't know how much surgery you can keep having. Sebastien took that bang on the head. That is okay but he also damaged his knee when he went down. Hopefully that will settle down.'[LNB] Rare chance: David Bentley has an opportunity to impress Harry Redknapp[LNB]Redknapp will field his fringe players at Deepdale, such as Giovani dos Santos and David Bentley, with Heurelho Gomes expected to return in goal after overcoming a thigh problem. [LNB]Roman Pavlyuchenko has an Achilles knock so it will be Peter Crouch leading the attack. 'Roman has a very slight tear in his Achilles but he should be okay for the weekend,' Redknapp added. [LNB]Admiration: Harry Redknapp respects the job Alan Irvine has done at Preston[LNB]Redknapp is looking to continue Spurs' recent good performances in the Carling Cup - they won the trophy in 2008 and reached the final last year, where they lost on penalties. [LNB]'It's important,' Redknapp said. 'We want to do well. Alan Irvine has done a great job there at Preston - I went there two years ago with Portsmouth when we won the FA Cup and they battered us really. David James saved us that day with a penalty save. I know it will be very difficult. [LNB] 'I took Spurs to the final last year; I was pleased about that but we won't underestimate Preston. They could possibly come out of the division as Burnley did last year.'[LNB]Meanwhile, Redknapp has offered his opinion on the fall-out following the Manchester derby, when Craig Bellamy appeared to clash with a fan who had come on to the pitch.[LNB]Redknapp said: 'Why has that lunatic run on the pitch? He could have had a knife, he could have anything. The lunatic should be banned for life.'[LNB]Provisional squad: Gomes, Cudicini, Walker, Hutton, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Keane, Palacios, Crouch, Naughton, Giovani, Defoe, Dawson, Corluka, Rose, Dervite, Assou-Ekotto.[LNB] Mexican takeaway: Depor make a move for Spurs outcast Giovani dos Santos Injury-hit Spurs eye £8m Sunderland's Anton Ferdinand to patch up defenceSpurs crisis as Woodgate's mystery injury continues to confound medicsTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
