Jonathan Woodgate has five weeks to save his Premier League career
Clubs have to name a 25-man squad on August 31 and cannot change it until the transfer window opens again on January 1.
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will not hold open a space for a player in the mild hope he gets fit within a few months and, faced by the prospect of being without Woodgate until the new year, will struggle to recruit a top-notch replacement without a guarantee of a place in the 25 for the entire season.
Ongoing injury problems to Ledley King, who will be included in the squad with a view to nursing him through as many games as possible, means Redknapp cannot
afford to take a chance at centre-back and he will
need strong evidence if he is to stick with Woodgate, who has a groin
problem.
"It must be really hard for Woody
because he’s nowhere near kicking a ball,” said Redknapp.
“He has been out for a year in America and Australia,
but he’s still nowhere near. I couldn’t put him in my 25. It’s
impossible. If he doesn’t start playing before the start of the season
he’s got no chance.
“You can’t have somebody in
who’s never going to play, if he’s not going to be fit.
“He’s got to really prove that between now and the
start of the season. Either that or we’ll see how we go in January.”
Redknapp’s other central defensive options are
England international Michael Dawson and Cameroon’s Sebastien Bassong.
Redknapp is hopeful of a small amount of spending
money at the very least to boost his squad.
He
said: “I’ve got to sit down with the chairman but I do genuinely feel we
need three players.
“The three I want are not
going to cost an awful lot - maybe a loan, a free transfer and maybe
I’ll buy one.”
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