Redknapp raring to return

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp said he may be able to make an earlier than expected return from illness to White Hart Lane.

The Spurs boss recently underwent heart surgery, and has spent the international break recuperating from the operation, though he has been in regular contact with his assistants Kevin Bond and Joe Jordan, who have assumed temporary responsibility for first-team affairs in his absence.

“Obviously it’s extremely frustrating staying away and being stuck at home and, as much as I’m anxious to come back, it wouldn’t be fair to disrespect the specialist who is advising me,” Redknapp told The Sunday Mirror.

“I’m fairly confident I will return earlier than they anticipated.”

“I feel fine within myself and I’m successfully driving everyone mad at home.”

Concerning exactly when he intends to resume his duties at Tottenham, Redknapp said: “In an ideal world I would like to be back for the game against Aston Villa next weekend but it would be unfair of me to say whether I will or won’t at this stage.”

“I’ll have to speak to the specialist this week, get his thoughts on it and take it from there.”