Harry Redknapp faces up to a defensive nightmare

Redknapp will be without skipper Ledley King, who can play only one game a week due to his knee problems, and right-back Alan Hutton, who underwent a scan on a foot injury yesterday, for the Group D fixture in Holland.

To make matters worse, Vedran Corluka is cup-tied having already played for Manchester City earlier in the competition, while another defender, Paul Stalteri, cannot play because he was not registered in the UEFA list by former manager Juande Ramos.

Redknapp could give a chance to Chris Gunter but he has not started a game since the 1-0 home defeat by Hull on 5 October.

That start came under Ramos who admitted today he has been left stunned by the way Tottenham players turned on him before and after he got the sack.

David Bentley and Jonathan Woodgate both undermined Ramos just before he was fired by making outspoken attacks on how things were being run and Darren Bent has since claimed that the Spaniard only "spoke four words to him in a year".

Ramos said: "Honestly, I have been surprised but I have a clear conscience regarding myself and the coaching staff's work.

"We gave our all, managed to win a title, but I felt sad for not being able to run my project.

"Right now all I do is watch football through television and the internet and spend time with my family [in London]."

Ramos agreed a pay-off with Spurs last week and insists he is not in a hurry to return to management just yet.