Soccer:Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will rest the vast majority of his first team in tomorrow's Europa League clash against Shamrock Rovers at White Hart Lane but still intends to field a side containing 'seven or eight' internationals.
Rovers, who count former Spurs player Rohan Ricketts among their ranks, were given a swift reminder of the tough nature of European competition two weeks ago when they lost 3-0 at home to Rubin Kazan.
Redknapp, whose team opened their Europa League campaign with a 0-0 draw at PAOK Salonika, intends to rest the majority of his first team tomorrow, but insists Spurs will not be taking the match lightly.
“I have got two eyes on the derby. I’m not putting my first team out tomorrow but it’ll be a team with some good, experienced players that will contain probably seven or eight full internationals,” Redknapp said.
“Players like Gareth Bale and Adebayor will not play. I can’t afford to miss them for the weekend. It’s a game we’re entitled to win. But they will rise to the big occasion. They’re a good side and have done well. Joe Jordan went to watch them and was impressed. They went to Belgrade and won.”
Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill will give goalkeeper Ryan Thompson every chance to prove his fitness ahead of the clash.
Thompson has been first choice for O’Neill during their earlier European encounters but he insisted the form of Richard Brush, the other goalkeeper on the Hoops’ books, means even if Thompson does not make it he will have a more-than-able deputy.
Craig Sives has also been passed fit to play after groin trouble and the majority of the squad is available with only striker Gary O’Neill ruled out with a thigh injury.
O’Neill is expecting a difficult challenge, regardless of what team the London club name. Despite the likelihood of facing some of Tottenham’s squad players, O’Neill believes they will still be underdogs come kick-off.
He said: “We saw in the opening Europa League game some of their younger players being blooded and they gave an excellent account of themselves. Whilst we are unsure of what we will face personnel-wise, there will probably be a sprinkling of experienced players mixed with some of the younger players they have here.
“Tottenham are building a Champions League squad here, that is what it is. When you have that level of ambition and that level of commitment you have to have a player of that calibre.”
O’Neill, who had two spells as a player in England, was under no illusions as to which game Redknapp would deem the bigger for his club.
“I think he (Redknapp) has been honest, the Arsenal game is a bigger game for Tottenham. I would expect their focus will be on that game but Tottenham have a good enough and large enough squad to deal with two games in that period of time,” he said.
With suggestions the team froze in the defeat at home to Kazan O’Neill is certain the players will not be overawed by the occasion this time around.
“They can go and enhance their reputations both individually as players and ours as a team,” he said. “I don’t think that the fear factor exists but you just don’t know to be honest, I believe that the players are really looking forward to the game and I don’t see any real apprehension in the squad.
“They seem relaxed and are keen to come here and hopefully they will be in the same frame of mind tomorrow night. I think you can’t really see it (nerves) until the game starts and that is influenced not only by how we start the game but also the opposition.”
The fixture also gives Rovers forward Rohan Ricketts the chance to play against his former club, something which O’Neill admits may have even helped him sign the nomadic playmaker towards the end of August.
He said: “I’m sure he has (a point to prove). He is a very talented player, we have probably got him at a time when his career was not going where he expected it to go.
“I think in the short space of time he has been with us he has shown us the ability he has. Any player coming back to their own club they have a point to prove. It is a good occasion for him getting this opportunity and if I’m honest it was probably a big factor in us persuading him to come and play for us.”
Provisional Tottenham squad:Gomes, Cudicini, Archer, Bassong, Corluka, Kaboul, Walker, Waller-Lassen, Livermore, Townsend, Fredericks, Carroll, Sandro, Kranjcar, Nicholson, Parrett, Lennon, Pienaar, Rose, Pavlyuchenko, Dos Santos, Falque, Kane, Lancaster, Defoe, Pritchard.
Provisional Shamrock Rovers squad:Thompson, Brush, Sullivan, Stevens, Sives, Murray, Rice, O'Donnell, Flynn, Peterson, Turner, Dennehy, Finn, McCormack, McCabe, Twigg, Sheppard, Kilduff, Ricketts.
