Spurs boss Redknapp eyes top spot

Last updated : 06 December 2010 By BBC Sport

Spurs have already qualified for the last 16 knockout stage, and can go through as group winners should they beat Dutch champions Twente on Tuesday.

Rafael van der Vaart (hamstring) and Younes Kaboul (hip) are still missing.

Sandro is ineligible, while Tom Huddlestone (ankle), Ledley King, Jonathan Woodgate (both groin) and Jamie O'Hara (back) are longer-term absentees.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp said that finishing top of the group could create a smoother path to the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition.

"It's [teams like] Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or Barcelona otherwise" he reflected. "You want to finish top and avoid them.

"You would certainly have a better chance of getting someone [less difficult] and progressing."

The north Londoners currently lead Group A on goal difference from holders Inter Milan, who travel to Werder Bremen for their final game.

"Inter will want to win; Twente will want to beat us, for sure, and we want to finish top if we can, so there is a lot to play for," Redknapp added.

"Inter Milan will go to Germany looking to win because that top position is important.

Twente's fate has already been decided, with the Dutch champions guaranteed third place, meaning they will parachute into the knockout stage of the Europa League.

TOTTENHAM TEAM [FROM]:

Gomes, Cudicini, Hutton, Corluka, Bale, Dawson, Gallas, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Palacios, Jenas, Kranjcar, Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Crouch, Pavlyuchenko, Keane, Defoe.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport