Redknapp ´sorry´ for Defoe

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has expressed sympathy for striker Jermaine Defoe following his recent omission from the starting line-up.

The England international has been left out of the last two Spurs games following the impressive form of both Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vart.

Defoe, 29, has netted five times in his seven Premier League games this season and is expected to miss out again when Tottenham host Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Redknapp told reporters: “I feel for Jermain at the moment.”

“It’s almost unfair that he’s not in the team but there is nothing we can do about that.”

“He has been in magnificent form and he can’t get in my team at the moment. He was almost unplayable in training this week, but Rafa has scored five in the last four.”

“Jermain is a sensible lad. I am sure he will look at it and he will see how well Rafa is playing, and Adebayor too.”

“If you look at Rafa’s goalscoring record it’s incredible. He is just a great finisher.”

“He is cool in front of goal and when the chances come he makes it look so easy. His two goals last week were world class.”

Roman Pavlyuchenko has also found himself out of favour recently and has spoken of a possible move if he fails to secure a first team place in coming games.

Redknapp, however, concedes that if Spurs were to sell the Russian, it would not be on the cheap.

“Pav has to keep working hard and see what happens. It’s up to the club,” Redknapp said.

“I suppose it’s possible (that he will leave) if he feels it will hamper his chances of playing in Euro 2012, but it would take a good offer for us to sell him.”

“We don’t want to sell him so if someone wants to take him it would have to be a good offer because he is a good player.”