Source: Daily_Mail
Ledley King could make Fulham Boxing Day return, reveals Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp
Welcome boost: Spurs centre back Ledley King[LNB]Harry Redknapp has revealed that Ledley King could make an early return from his knee injury within the next week. [LNB]King returned to training on Friday morning and could be ready for the Boxing Day trip to Fulham although, if that happens, Redknapp will not play the centre back again two days later against West Ham. [LNB]It is welcome news for Tottenham as Redknapp had admitted earlier this week that he feared January could be a disaster month for the club because they are so short of centre backs with Sebastien Bassomg going to the Africa Cup of Nations and Jonathan Woodgate still being injured.[LNB]Speaking about King, Tottenham manager Redknapp said: 'He should be fit for the Christmas period. Certainly for one game anyway. He's not going to play two games in three days.' [LNB]He admitted that, despite being injury-prone, Tottenham will consider extending King's contract by another year. 'I'd want to keep him here for sure,' said Redknapp. [LNB]There was worse news on the injury front regarding Luke Modric, who has suffered a further setback, requiring an injection. It gives in-form, left-sided midfielder Niko Kranjcar more time to prove himself and save his spot in the team before his Croatian team-mate returns. [LNB]Redknapp described Kranjcar's performance in the recent win over Manchester City as 'amazing'. Although the pair play together for Croatia, Redknapp is unlikely to fit them both into the Tottenham starting line-up. [LNB] 'Amazing': Niko Kranjcar scores his second goal against Manchester City[LNB]But the Spurs boss claims he would consider it although he will not play a five-man midfield to accomodate them all. [LNB]Redknapp said: 'Modric could play centre midfield in a 4-4-2. I'd prefer to play two up front. The only player who can play up front on his own is Peter Crouch. It's not a position for Jermain Defoe to play.' [LNB]Looking ahead to the Christmas period, Redknapp refuted Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's suggestion that there are too many games in too short space of time. The former West Ham manager said: 'We just get on with it and don't use that as an excuse. [LNB] 'When I was a player, we used to play on Christmas day and for two days running over Christmas. We'd play a match and then go straight up on the train for the next fixture.[LNB] 'The players didn't complain. They'd get their 20 quid a week. Some got eight. I'm sure modern players could manage it.' [LNB]Meanwhile, he does not expect Aaron Lennon to leave Tottenham for a bigger club. Redknapp said: 'Tottenham are one of the big boys. Man United have got Valencia so I don't think they need a right winger. [LNB]'Aaron's a top player, a fantastic player. When he plays like he did against Manchester City, he's unplayable. He can open up any defence. He's still got a lot to learn - he's not the finished article - but he's getting there.' [LNB]Regarding speculation over a move for Wigan's Maynor Figueroa, who has been linked to Sunderland too, Redknapp said: 'No, it's not a goer. I think it's a done deal with another club. I don't know how our name has come into it.'[LNB] Spurs plan to gazump rivals Arsenal and snap up Chamakh for freeSunderland in pole position to sign Wigan defender Maynor FigueroaFuming Harry Redknapp ready to punish Spurs stars who held Christmas party behind his backTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
