Harry Redknapp has outlined the challenge facing him as a “psychologist” to focus his players’ minds away from the trauma of witnessing Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest.
Tottenham Hotspur provided specialist heart-screening equipment and a professional counsellor at their training base on Monday in a bid to assuage fears Redknapp’s squad may have had in the aftermath of the abandoned FA Cup quarter-final against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
Though all of his players underwent the medical examination, the psychologist’s role was limited to a “quick chat”, according to the manager. “They all seemed OK and the news so far [yesterday] has been amazing, and that has helped everyone,” Redknapp said.
His gut feeling is that the prospect of a Barclays Premier League game at home to a combative Stoke City side tonight will provide a welcome distraction for his players, but he is aware that it is his duty to assess his squad for signs of strain after four days that he admits have knocked all at the club “flat”.
“You can soon tell when they’re training if their minds are on it,” Redknapp said. “If they’re not, I’ll have a chat with them. I wouldn’t want to take a chance with them, obviously. But we need to play and we are ready to play. Sometimes the best thing if you fall off the bike is to get back on.
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“It has knocked me flat for two days. It seems to be one thing after another recently. It does take its toll, especially with a young boy like that. Everybody has been talking about it. The only place the players have stopped talking about it is the dressing room.”
The intervention of a cardiologist in the White Hart Lane crowd, Dr Andrew Deaner, to help the stricken Muamba provided a rare ray of light in a dark season for Redknapp and his club: the manager’s own health issues and a lengthy court case, as well as the injury sustained last week by Oliver Modeste, a 17-year-old youth-team player, who remains in intensive care, have all affected Spurs.
Dr Deaner has been contacted by the club and Redknapp confirmed yesterday that he would like to thank him in person for his help. The best news, though, is Muamba’s improvement. “When I heard, it lifted my spirits,” Redknapp said.
Tottenham Hotspur (possible; 4-4-1-1): B Friedel — K Walker, Y Kaboul, W Gallas, B Assou-Ekotto — G Bale, S Parker, J Livermore, L Modric — R van der Vaart — J Defoe.
Stoke City (possible; 4-5-1): A Begovic — R Shotton, R Shawcross, R Huth, M Upson — J Walters, R Delap, W Palacios, D Whitehead, M Etherington — P Crouch.
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Referee: M Jones.