Injury-hit Spurs turn to Gudjohnsen for Cup clash
James PHEBY
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is banking on striker Eidur
Gudjohnsen to fire his team to the FA Cup semi-finals when they meet
London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane here on Wednesday.
Redknapp was without Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley,
Jermaine Jenas and striker Jermain Defoe for Saturday's win at Stoke and
is now sweating over the fitness of Roman Pavlyuchenko who limped off
with a hamstring strain.
Quarter-final
This means Peter Crouch and Gudjohnsen are likely to be the only fit
strikers available for Spurs' quarter-final replay clash.
But Redknapp backed the Iceland frontman, who scored in the 2-1 win
against Stoke, to rise to the task.
"Technically he is top, top drawer," the former Portsmouth manager
said of his 31-year-old forward, who is on loan from Monaco until the
end of the season. "You don't play for Chelsea and Barcelona if you're
not a great player.
"He is a fantastic footballer and has just been unlucky that Defoe
has been scoring and Pavlyuchenko has come in and scored and Crouch has
done a great job," Redknapp added.
Premier League
The Spurs boss is desperate to set up a semi-final encounter with his
old club Portsmouth, where he won the trophy in 2008, but is also intent
on protecting his dwindling resources for the push for a fourth place
finish in the Premier League which will guarantee Champions League
football next season.
The north-Londoners, who last won the FA Cup in 1991, currently
occupy fourth place but are only two points ahead of Manchester City
having played one game more.
Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who is currently on loan at
Portsmouth, finds himself in the strange situation of wanting his parent
club to lose as he would be cup-tied for the Wembley semi-final if
Spurs, who were held to a goalless draw by Fulham in their initial last
eight clash, go through.
"It is a weird one because for the first time in my life I will be
hoping Spurs lose," the 23-year-old O'Hara said.
"I have always supported them but I've got to be selfish and honest,
I want Fulham to go through."
Fulham are still on a high after pulling off arguably the greatest
result in their history when they came back to beat Italian giants
Juventus 5-4 in last Thursday's Europa League tie.
Joy was tempered by Sunday's home defeat by Manchester City but
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will feel his team have nothing to lose in
their quest to reach the semi-final.
FA Cup final
Centre-back Chris Smalling, who is to join 2009 Premier League
champions Manchester United at the end of the season, promised the
Cottagers, whose lone appearance in an FA Cup final saw them beaten by
West Ham back in 1975, would give everything in Wednesday's tie.
"We'd love to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup, that really would
make this season another one to remember," the England Under-21 star
said. LONDON, AFP |
