RECOVERING TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp remains hopeful of making a return to the touchline for Spurs’ next match, according to assistant manager Kevin Bond.
Redknapp has missed the north London club’s past two games after he underwent minor heart surgery last week.
The 64-year-old has been advised by doctors to rest for up to five weeks, however, he could be back at work when Spurs host Aston Villa on November 21st.
The international break has allowed Redknapp extra time in his recovery and, while Bond stressed his boss would heed the medics’ advice, he admitted Redknapp was targeting a return against Villa.
“Whatever the doctors say, he needs to take his lead from them,” Bond said. “These people know best and he might have to take a little bit longer.
“He’s hoping that he will be back for our next game. I know initially that was his thoughts, that he would be back for the Villa game. If it needs to be longer, he will have to listen to those guys.”
In Redknapp’s absence Bond has taken on the managerial responsibilities alongside Joe Jordan and Clive Allen.
They masterminded the 3-1 success over Fulham on Sunday and Bond admitted the trio were content to stay in charge until Redknapp was fit to return.
“That’s what Joe, myself and Clive and the other members of the coaching staff will do,” said Bond.
“We will try and keep it going. Hopefully Harry will be back for our next game, but if he’s not we will take our lead from him and try to do things in the same way as we always have done before. The players know what is expected from them and all we will try to do is to keep things going as sweetly as we can do until Harry returns.”
Elsewhere, Andreas Hoelgebaum Pereira, a coveted Belgian teenager, has claimed Manchester United have won the race to sign him, after the personal intervention of Alex Ferguson.
Pereira has told the media in the Netherlands that he will sign a three-and-a-half-year deal at Old Trafford on January 1st, the day of his 16th birthday.
The midfielder, who has been part of the academy at PSV Eindhoven since he was nine, was also reportedly a target for several of United’s Premier League rivals, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea.
“PSV knew that I was talking with some clubs and they respected my choice,” Pereira said. “I had some doubts but at the end Manchester United is my dream team to play for. Manchester United is obviously a great club. I am an offensive midfielder, a real 10. Setting up my team-mates, scoring and a good shot are my qualities.”
Ferguson made a personal effort to ensure Pereira chose United, a common tactic for the club’s manager when looking to coax young players to join.
“I have been a few times to Manchester United to have a look. I got a tour and spoke to Alex Ferguson. Being a 15-year-old, to talk with such a man was great.”
Yesterday evening on Twitter Pereira said: “Thank you God for this beautiful opportunity.”
The teenager has Brazilian family and is considered one of the brightest talents of his generation. Players of his age at PSV, though, receive only a modest training wage. In turn United will be liable for a small compensation fee for Pereira’s services.
United have previously signed Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jaap Stam and Park Ji-sung from PSV Eindhoven.
Sunderland striker Connor Wickham has been handed a boost after being told his knee injury may not be as bad as was first thought.
The 18-year-old had scans yesterday on the knee he damaged just seconds into Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester United.
Last night, Wickham revealed via Twitter that he had been given a more encouraging prognosis than expected, although he is yet to discover the full extent of the damage.
He tweeted: “Scans showing injury not as bad as first thought, waiting to see a knee specialist later in the week.”
