Injury-hit Spurs turn to Gudjohnsen for Cup clash

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is banking on striker Eidur Gudjohnsen to fire his team to the FA Cup semi-finals when they meet London rivals Fulham at White Hart Lane on Wednesday.

Redknapp was without Tom Huddlestone, Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas and striker Jermain Defoe for Saturday’s win at Stoke and is now sweating over the fitness of Roman Pavlyuchenko who limped off with a hamstring strain.

This means Peter Crouch and Gudjohnsen are likely to be the only fit strikers available for Spurs’ quarter-final replay clash.

But Redknapp backed the Iceland frontman, who scored in the 2-1 win against Stoke, to rise to the task.

“Technically he is top, top drawer,” the former Portsmouth manager said of his 31-year-old forward, who is on loan from Monaco until the end of the season. “You don’t play for Chelsea and Barcelona if you’re not a great player.

“He is a fantastic footballer and has just been unlucky that Defoe has been scoring and Pavlyuchenko has come in and scored and Crouch has done a great job,” Redknapp added.

The Spurs boss is desperate to set up a semi-final encounter with his old club Portsmouth, where he won the trophy in 2008, but is also intent on protecting his dwindling resources for the push for a fourth place finish in the Premier League which will guarantee Champions League football next season.

The north-Londoners, who last won the FA Cup in 1991, currently occupy fourth place but are only two points ahead of Manchester City having played one game more.

Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara, who is currently on loan at Portsmouth, finds himself in the strange situation of wanting his parent club to lose as he would be cup-tied for the Wembley semi-final if Spurs, who were held to a goalless draw by Fulham in their initial last eight clash, go through.

“It is a weird one because for the first time in my life I will be hoping Spurs lose,” the 23-year-old O’Hara said. “I have always supported them but I’ve got to be selfish and honest, I want Fulham to go through.”

Fulham are still on a high after pulling off arguably the greatest result in their history when they came back to beat Italian giants Juventus 5-4 in last Thursday’s Europa League tie.

Joy was tempered by Sunday’s home defeat by Manchester City but Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will feel his team have nothing to lose in their quest to reach the semi-final.

Centre-back Chris Smalling, who is to join 2009 Premier League champions Manchester United at the end of the season, promised the Cottagers, whose lone appearance in an FA Cup final saw them beaten by West Ham back in 1975, would give everything in Wednesday’s tie.

“We’d love to reach the semi-final of the FA Cup, that really would make this season another one to remember,” the England Under-21 star said.

“We’ve had quite a few games lately but the focus now falls solely on Spurs. It’s one that we’re relishing.”

Former Inter Milan boss Hodgson has injury concerns of his own, but is confident defender Brede Hangeland, midfielder Zoltan Gera and in-form striker Bobby Zamora will be available.

Norway centre-back Hangeland was omitted from Sunday’s squad while England hopeful Zamora and former West Bromwich man Gera were both substituted as a precautionary measure early in the second-half.

“They’re both okay, I’m not worried about them,” Hodgson said. “I took them off to give them a rest and as far as Hangeland’s concerned, we think he’ll be fit for Wednesday.”