Spurs fringe must prove they can cut it

Tom Collomosse
27 Oct 2009

IF the measure of a club's strength is the depth of its first-team squad, tonight's Carling Cup tie against Everton will provide a serious test of Tottenham's ambition to break into the Premier League's top four.

Spurs' best players, such as Jermain Defoe, Luka Modric and Ledley King, are good enough to command a place in virtually any top-flight side, but it is the men on the fringes of the first XI who may have an increasingly important role to play as the season unfolds.

For this reason, it is vital that Gareth Bale, David Bentley and Roman Pavlyuchenko, to name only three, shine against Premier League opposition this evening. A strong performance from Spurs' back-up players would go some way towards convincing boss Harry Redknapp that he has enough options to maintain a challenge for a place in next season's Champions League.

Redknapp rotated his squad for Spurs' second and third-round ties against Doncaster and Preston, and his players repaid him with two 5-1 wins. But against Everton they can expect a far sterner examination, even though the Merseysiders are struggling to cope with a severe injury list.

Defoe, Modric and King will all be missing tonight, along with Jonathan Woodgate and Aaron Lennon, who yesterday had scans on facial and ankle injuries respectively. Peter Crouch is also struggling with a groin problem, while Niko Kranjcar is cup-tied after playing for Portsmouth in an earlier round.

Yet, on paper at least, Spurs have the quality in reserve to compensate for such absences. Bale and Pavlyuchenko were among the substitutes for Saturday's home defeat by Stoke, along with Alan Hutton, Jermaine Jenas, Michael Dawson and Kyle Naughton - six players who cost the club a combined £46million. Bentley, who was not in the squad against Tony Pulis's side, was signed for £15m from Blackburn in July 2008.

Jenas and Dawson have featured regularly throughout Redknapp's one-year reign, while Naughton was brought in from Sheffield United with an eye for the future, but it is Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Hutton and Bentley who must deliver against Everton. At their best, all four would be placing huge pressure on Redknapp to be included in the starting XI, yet at present, none would come close to featuring in a first-choice line-up.

If their form does not improve dramatically, the quartet are in danger of being shipped out during the January transfer window, as Redknapp seeks players he can depend upon. What these fringe players must do to regain Redknapp's trust is display the self-confidence and hunger which earned them moves to White Hart Lane in the first place, and a cup-tie against talented opponents is the perfect opportunity for them.

There is plenty of incentive for a resurgence. Injuries to Lennon and Modric mean the door is open for Bentley to find favour with Redknapp again, while Russia striker Pavlyuchenko knows his chances of playing in next summer's World Cup - if his country qualify through the play-offs - depend a great deal on the impact he makes at club level.

Bale can play either at left-back or on the left of midfield, and the form Hutton showed during his first four months at the club, following his £9m move from Rangers, would have been enough to earn the Scot a place in most Premier League teams.

"I have a lot of players who need a game," said Redknapp. "They are part of the squad and they work hard every day, but they need to play.

"Some of them have played in the previous rounds, and we played well at Doncaster and well at Preston.

"It's a good opportunity for the players who have not played so much to stake a claim for a place.

"When the chance comes, they've got to take it. I can only pick the players in the squad who I feel deserve to be in the team. It's been difficult for players like David Bentley, but he has to keep working and try to get back in. Every good football club has to have a squad.

"Aaron Lennon has picked up an injury, so it could be a chance for David to show what he can do. He has to come in and do it."

Tottenham won the Carling Cup in 2008 and were beaten on penalties by Manchester United in last season's final, and Redknapp continued: "We want to get back into Europe, and we have a good chance to do that in the Carling Cup.

"It's gone well since I took over a year ago, and I believe it will only get better. We will keep improving the team and keep getting stronger. There is every possibility that we can really build a team at this club.

"If we could win the Carling Cup this season and finish in the top six of the Premier League, I would take that."

Player to watch - Jack Rodwell (Everton)

Despite being only 18, Rodwell has already established himself as a key member of David Moyes's squad since making his Premier League debut in March 2008 and is one of the most highly-rated young players in the Premier League. A product of Everton's youth system, he can play either in central defence or central midfield, and combines a powerful physical presence with intelligence in possession. With key players Mikel Arteta, Phil Neville, Phil Jagielka and Steven Pienaar all absent through injury, Moyes will be expecting Rodwell to exert more influence in the first team, and he has an ideal opportunity to do just that at White Hart Lane this evening.

Team news

Harry Redknapp is likely to give fringe players Carlo Cudicini, Gareth Bale, David Bentley and Roman Pavlyuchenko a run out, as Spurs have one eye on Saturday's derby against Arsenal. Striker Peter Crouch is struggling with a groin problem and could miss out along with defender Jonathan Woodgate (concussion) and winger Aaron Lennon (ankle), plus the suspended Jermain Defoe. John Heitinga is likely to be fit for Everton, while striker Yakubu may also come into contention as David Moyes seeks to make changes to his starting XI for the Toffees' third game in six days. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, Leighton Baines and Joseph Yobo could also feature.