Striker shortage is worrying Redknapp

TOTTENHAM boss Harry Redknapp will target a striker next month as his priority after illness to Darren Bent exposed a lack of attacking options in his squad ahead of tonight’s UEFA Cup clash against Spartak Moscow.

Redknapp has Fraizer Campbell as his only fit frontman to face the Russian outfit, with Roman Pavlyuchenko cup-tied and Bent in bed with tonsillitis for a match Spurs could lose and still advance to knockout phase if other results go their way.

“Pav’s out, Benty’s out, we’ve got to wrap Fraizer Campbell in cotton wool because if anything happened to him, we haven’t got anybody to play centre-forward,” Redknapp said. “(Coach) Les Ferdinand up front would be handy!”

Redknapp is likely to search for loans and bargains when the transfer window opens in a fortnight, although he is unsure whether Robbie Keane would be available on a cut-price deal.

After leaving White Hart Lane in the summer, Keane has struggled with Liverpool and could be “moved on”, according to former Reds defender Mark Lawrenson.

“I like Robbie Keane. He’s a fantastic footballer,” Redknapp said. “There’s no doubt about that. Everyone’s got a value and, at £20m, it was a lot of money. I thought it was good business. The chairman did good business getting that type of money for him. But, if they don’t want to sell him, that’s their business.

“He’s a Liverpool player. Until the day when they say he’s for sale, he’s part of their club.”

In the long term, Redknapp admits he needs investment in his squad if Spurs are to compete for a top-four place in the Premier League. Lassana Diarra, who is set to move to Real Madrid after being signed by Redknapp for Portsmouth, is the type of player the Spurs boss would want to target.

Redknapp is confident chairman Daniel Levy will back him in the transfer market if he finds the right players at the right price. Without significant investment, Redknapp feels a top-half finish in the league would represent progress this season.

“It’d be a great season,” he said. “We had two points.

“If we’d just gone on normal form, say a point a game, we’d be sitting there now with 11 points and bang in trouble.”

Redknapp also wants to bring in cover for goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes. He ruled out a swoop for Manchester United’s Ben Foster but has been linked with Spartak’s Stipe Pletikosa.

Redknapp has players missing elsewhere for the Spartak game. Vedran Corluka is cup-tied like Pavlyuchenko, while Alan Hutton (foot), Jermaine Jenas (calf), Jonathan Woodgate (back), Ledley King (knee) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) are out.

It means centre-back Michael Dawson is set to be named skipper for the match, from which a point would make absolutely sure of Spurs’ place in the last 32. Youngsters Dean Parrett and John Bostock are also in the squad.