Source: SKY_Sports
Redknapp - King not finished
Harry Redknapp believes Ledley King will have an important role to play for England in the future.
The Tottenham defender was included in Fabio Capello's latest squad, only to then be sent home following a club versus country row.
Spurs boss Redknapp insisted his skipper was in no physical condition to be competing at that level and was very public in his criticism of the decision to hand him a call-up.
England medics then assessed King upon his arrival at their training camp and subsequently deemed him unfit for duty.
Redknapp insists he has no desire to bring an end to the defender's international career, but admits he is delighted to see common sense prevail on this occasion.
"Ledley King should play for England and should be at the World Cup," Redknapp stated in his column for The Sun.
"It wasn't me who sent him home on the first day of training when the squad met on Tuesday.
"That decision was taken by the England medical staff, after taking one look at his knee and finally realising the full situation.
"I'm relieved they have seen sense and accepted what the doctors, medics and myself here at Tottenham have been saying all along."
He added: "I would love to see him play for England. I would love to see him playing for England at the World Cup finals.
"No one deserves it more than him and no one would like to see it more than me.
"If England want him in the summer, great.
"If England get to the World Cup finals in 2010 and play in June, one game every week, fantastic. I will even drive Ledley to South Africa myself."
Redknapp also believes that Spurs' cautious approach with regards to King's fitness is in the best interests of the player.
"Ledley is a constant risk. That's how it is," he added
"He could overdo it with England and then with Spurs, and in eight months' time be on the scrapheap, and who would remember him then?
"I am trying to do what's best for him.
"I don't want him to retire from international football, Ledley doesn't. e both want him to play for England."
