Rafa must get fitter - Redknapp

12 November 2010 06:23
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes deadline-day signing Rafael van der Vaart needs to improve his fitness.[LNB] The 27-year-old has become a firm favourite at his new club since joining Spurs from Real Madrid for £8million on September 1, scoring in all six of his matches at White Hart Lane.[LNB]But Redknapp reckons the Holland midfielder showed signs of fatigue towards the end of Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Sunderland and still needs to fully adapt to playing in the Premier League.[LNB]Quoted in several newspapers, Redknapp said: "He should be okay for the weekend [against Blackburn]. He got tired, didn't he? He disappeared a bit, second half [against Sunderland].[LNB]"He's got to get fitter and adapt to playing 90 minutes in the Premier League. He's a fantastic player but I think he does just run out of steam a little bit at the moment."[LNB]Van der Vaart aggravated a hamstring injury in Tottenham's 3-1 win over Inter Milan last month and sat out last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Bolton before making a goalscoring return to the side against the Black Cats.[LNB]

Source: Team_Talk