Soccer: Hoddle backing for Taylor

Glenn Hoddle is backing pal Peter Taylor to emerge from his nightmare on Filbert Street and prove himself a top manager, but the Tottenham boss admits he will be doing all he can to ensure it continues for a little longer on Saturday.

The two former Spurs team-mates collide when Hoddle takes his team to Leicester, who have suffered an unwanted club record of nine consecutive defeats that have turned Taylor from hero to zero.

But Hoddle, who is facing problems of his own at Tottenham where his reign has begun with a horrendous injury list, believes the man who worked under him in the England set-up as boss of the Under-21 side will see off his critics.

"Not so long ago, Peter was being spoken about as a future manager of the England senior team. Now he’s taking all kinds of grief which just shows what a fickle business football is," said Hoddle.

"Like us he’s suffered injuries to key players and in a small squad you just can’t cater for that. He’s had a very bad run which has stretched to a number of weeks, but I know that he is a very good coach and I’m very confident he will turn it around.

"You can’t escape the fact, though, that everybody wants to be a winner every Saturday and from a professional point of view I have to hope Peter’s luck starts turning next week rather than this week."

Hoddle has now given up all hope of eight injured players - Sol Campbell, Darren Anderton, Chris Perry, Ledley King, Ben Thatcher, Mauricio Tarrico, Steffen Freund and Chris Armstrong playing again this season.

And he has had to rule out a comeback for £11m striker Sergei Rebrov who is still struggling with the hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last two games.

That is a big blow as Dutchman Willem Korsten must serve a one-match suspension after being sent off against Chelsea last month.

"Sergei could have an outside chance of being back for our final game of the season at home to Manchester United," said Hoddle.

"And that might also apply to Steffen Iversen, although he’s only just been given clearance by the neurologist to start running again after his couple of knockout blows last month."

Hoddle admitted: "It is all about next season for us now and, quite honestly, I’ll be glad when this one is over and we can see where we are in the summer."

Former Dulwich Hamlet striker Dave McEwen could get a first-team call tomorrow after scoring Spurs reserves winner against Arsenal on Wednesday night.

Les Ferdinand, who made his comeback in last week’s goalless draw against Aston Villa after hamstring trouble, is currently Tottenham’s only other fit striker.

"Once again it will be a case of putting out the youngsters with even younger ones on the bench," said Hoddle.