Redknapp defends role in King saga
Harry Redknapp wants Ledley King to play for England
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Thursday, 26, Mar 2009 09:33
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has insisted he wants injury-stricken defender Ledley King to play for England.
A huge club-versus-country row erupted when King was selected in the England squad to play against Slovakia and Ukraine.
King has a chronic knee problem and has no cartilage left in one of his knees, which means that he is only able to play one game a week. Tottenham take great care with their former captain and don't let him train as his knee swells up for a week after a game.
Redknapp publically stated his bewilderment at King's call-up to the squad and criticised the England hierarchy. The England medical team assessed King and then decided he wasn't fit to play.
"Ledley King should play for England and should be at the World Cup," said Redknapp. "If England get to the World Cup finals in 2010 and play in June, one game every week, fantastic. I will even drive Ledley to South Africa myself.
However, Redknapp added: "Ledley is a constant risk. He could overdo it with England and then with Spurs, and in eight months' time be on the scrapheap, and who would remember him then? I am trying to do what's best for him.
"It wasn't me who sent him home on the first day of training when the squad met. That decision was taken by the England medical staff, after taking one look at his knee and finally realising the full situation.
"I'm relieved they have seen sense and accepted what the doctors, medics and myself here at Tottenham have been saying all along."