Hammers return holds no fears for Harry

HARRY REDKNAPP returns to Upton Park tonight hoping for a warm reception and admits nothing will compare to the hostility he suffered when he went back to Portsmouth with Southampton.

It is uncertain how Hammers fans will react, as Redknapp gave them entertainment and stability during his seven-year spell as their manager but is now with their bitter rivals.

He is hoping they will not turn on him but if they do it is unlikely to come close to the ugly scenes when he went to Fratton Park after joining Pompey’s rivals.

There were reports at the time of the club employing a bodyguard to protect Redknapp, and during the match it was brought home to him the mistake he made in moving to Southampton.

“It did, certainly,” admitted Redknapp. “It was very difficult but you do what you do?

“I had a right to go to work. I had fallen out with the owner at Portsmouth. I’m a football person so I went to work.

“If I could turn the clock back I wouldn’t have gone there, looking back on it. Sometimes you jump into things and we all make mistakes in life. Show me a man who doesn’t make mistakes and I’ll show you a liar.”

Redknapp’s arrival at White Hart Lane has sparked a turnaround in fortunes for Spurs, although they are still at the wrong end of the table heading into the clash against Gianfranco Zola’s men.

The Italian, meanwhile, has described his assistant Steve Clarke as his best signing at Upton Park and is bracing himself for offers to tempt the Scot into management.

Clarke has attempted to instil Chelsea’s winning mentality into the Hammers as they attempt to recover from a tricky start.

“Talking to me about Steve Clarke is like talking to me about my father,” Zola said. “He’s such an important person for me which is why I said since the day I took the job that I wanted him with me.

“I am a little bit worried about losing him but my worries are completely overcome by the pleasure of seeing him going his way and having the success he deserves.

“I know one day he’ll go into management and he’ll be very sad but I am going to be happy knowing he can do a great job. I would say he is my best signing.”

WEST HAM (4-4-2, likely): Green, Nelil, Collins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Mullins, Behrami, Bellamy, Cole.

TOTTENHAM (4-4-1-1, likely): Gomes, Corluka ,Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Zokora, Huddlestone, Bentley, Modric, Pavlyuchenko