Ricketts returns to the place he earned his Spurs

HE was only the fourth player in history to leave Arsenal for Spurs when he crossed north London in 2002 but, in truth, that giant step in football terms was only a modest relocation geographically for a man whose relentless globetrotting has since seen him play football in Canada, Hungary, Moldova, Germany and, now, Ireland.

Tonight, when Spurs host Shamrock Rovers in their eagerly awaited Europa League clash, midfielder Rohan Ricketts will return to White Hart Lane as the latest super Hoop and, to judge by the social network media on which he is prominent, there’ll be a warm welcome back for the man who won over the fans during two seasons at Tottenham under Glenn Hoddle, before his career took the first of one too many twists and turns.

“I wasn’t manager when he was here, but he has been around the world since then,” Spurs boss Harry Redknapp observed yesterday. “Hopefully he will settle down and get his career going at Shamrock Rovers, and I am sure he will look forward to coming back here.”

Earlier this week, Ricketts recalled how he went from flavour of the month to where-is-he-now: “Last time I was at Spurs, I was getting man of the match against Steven Gerrard. I had Alex Ferguson tapping me on the back at Old Trafford and telling me I played well. I had Sven Goran Eriksson calling me to congratulate me on my progress. And I go from there... to Moldova. Not getting played. Not getting paid.”

And now, just as suddenly, the 28-year-old finds himself back at the old place, playing Europa League football for Shamrock Rovers

“It’s a nice surprise,” he said. “So many people have contacted me already. I’ve spoken to fans, people at the club. Hopefully I’m in the team. To step out there tonight would be amazing.’’

Before training at White Hart Lane last night, Rovers boss Michael O’Neill admitted that the prospect of playing Spurs was a factor in the Hoops securing Ricketts on a short-term contract.

“He’ll be coming back here with a point to prove,” said O’Neill. “We’ve probably got him at a time when his career isn’t going the way he’s expected it to go and he isn’t maybe as fit as he should be at the minute. But in the short space of time he hasn’t been with us, he’s shown the ability and quality he has. And whether he starts tonight or comes into it later on, we know he’s the sort of player who can really influence a game.”

Picture: INPHO