Redknapp has stroked egos says Campbell

Mike McGrath,Pa Sport
Thursday 13 November 2008 13:25 EST
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Fraizer Campbell has revealed how Harry Redknapp has given the players confidence at Tottenham, as the team puts the top half of the Barclays Premier League in their sights.

Spurs boss Redknapp is less than three weeks into his job and has recorded five wins and a draw - the club are off the foot of the table and are two points behind 10th-placed Fulham, who they face at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Players marginalised by former boss Juande Ramos have been included in Redknapp's plans, with Kevin-Prince Boateng and Ricardo Rocha in the matchday squad for the midweek Carling Cup win over Liverpool.

The scorers against Rafael Benitez's men were strikers Campbell and Roman Pavlyuchenko, who have been in the shadows recently while Darren Bent has been firing Spurs away from the relegation zone.

"Heads were down and he came in and stroked their egos a bit," Campbell said. "Everyone has responded brilliantly to it."

Redknapp admittedly has been helped by what he describes as the tightest campaign in recent history - the Spurs manager feels 14 teams are candidates for a relegation battle.

It could now work in Spurs' favour as Redknapp's players are playing with no fear.

"Once you have won one game, you believe in yourself and we go out there and feel like we are invincible sometimes," Campbell said.

"We are beating teams quite comfortably. The new manager has put confidence into all the players. Every player has got the confidence in themselves and the belief that we are better than where we are in the league (16th). It is going really well."

Another player who has benefitted from Redknapp's arrival is Michael Dawson, who was given the armband for the 4-2 win over Liverpool.

Redknapp believes Dawson is a "future captain" and also feels the centre-back's heading ability is important for the squad.

The Spurs boss said: "We have Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, we have strong headers of a ball, and Dawson. Apart from that we are not that strong in the air in my opinion."

Dawson, who was suspended for the first three games of Redknapp's reign after a red card against Stoke, said: "Football is a squad game, we've shown what a good squad we've got and everyone is fighting for a place, which is good for the team.

"You don't become bad players overnight. Since the manager has come in, he has given that belief back to every one of us. He has told us to express ourselves.

"We've got great players. It was disappointing to see us where we were. Now we're playing with no fear and showing what we're all about."

Redknapp has stressed the importance of clash at Fulham this weekend.

He added: "It's a massive game, we need league points to get up that table."

Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is expected to be available despite taking a blow to the head against Liverpool.

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