Grant backs Redknapp to sort out England

Chelsea coach Avram Grant believes Harry Redknapp’s understanding of the modern footballer makes him an ideal candidate to replace sacked Steve McClaren as England boss.

McClaren was given the boot by the Football Association this week when their 3-2 home defeat by Croatia meant England failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

Portsmouth boss Redknapp has since emerged as one of the early favourites to follow McClaren into the England hotseat and Grant, who worked with him during his time at Portsmouth, believes he has all the right credentials for the job.

Grant declared: “I think Harry Redknapp for me is the best English manager.

“He is an open guy and he understands the modern footballer. He has a very good relationship with the players.

“He knows how to get the best out of the players as you have seen with Portsmouth. He is a very good manager.”

While England’s failure to qualify for next summer’s competition cost McClaren and assistant Terry Venables their jobs, the highly-paid players have also come under fire.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane claims too many of England’s players suffer from “big egos” but Grant insists that is okay as long as the players give 100% performance.

“I am 53 years old and since I was 10 I have always heard football players have big egos,” he said.

“They have a big ego, they have big money. Footballers have egos, Roy Keane had a one when he was a player, I don’t think it is wrong.

“It is wrong if you take it in a negative way. But if someone is ready to give 100% to the team, it is not a problem.”

England’s choice of managers to succeed McClaren is dwindling rapidly with Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill and Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce both ruling themselves out of the race.

But despite increasing negativity towards the job, Grant does not think it is a poisoned chalice.

However, he does admit it takes a special kind of manager to succeed because of the lack of involvement with the players on a daily basis.

Grant added: “To coach a national team is a very special job. Why people don’t want this job? I understand this because when they suggested I coach the Israel national team when I was 40, I said ’No’. I did not want to work once in one month or something like that.

“I can tell you that in my fourth year as coach of the national team, I almost became crazy because there were too many days when you didn’t do anything. You only thought about the next game.”

Chelsea go to rock-bottom Derby this evening boosted by the return of England captain John Terry.

He will be play against the Rams while Grant also revealed Portugal defender Ricardo Carvalho will be out for a month with a back injury sustained against Everton a fortnight ago.

Striker Didier Drogba is also doubtful after sustaining a knee injury on international duty with the Ivory Coast.

Grant added: “Terry will play tomorrow. I think he is ready to play but Didier Drogba is injured.

“The situation is not good with Ricardo though. He will miss at least four weeks.”