• Premier League

Redknapp admits he risked Van der Vaart's health

December 27, 2010
Rafael Van der Vaart produced two classy finishes at Aston Villa © PA Photos
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Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is celebrating a superb victory over Aston Villa and said he should not have left two-goal hero Rafael van der Vaart on the pitch to score his second.

Van der Vaart had missed the previous three games with a hamstring injury, but returned with devastating effect to score a brace in a 2-1 victory at Villa that kept Spurs fifth in the Premier League.

The Dutch midfielder grabbed the opener in the 23rd minute before being asked to play as a lone frontman following the dismissal of Jermain Defoe four minutes later for an elbow in the face of Villa captain James Collins.

It was a role he played superbly, rounding off his performance with a second goal. Redknapp, though, had considered taking off Van der Vaart before his 10th goal of the season due to fears over another injury.

"I took a gamble with him because he has had a hamstring problem, and when he gets tired he tends to get injuries,'' said Redknapp. "He went to the World Cup and played bit parts all the time and probably didn't get a proper pre-season under his belt.

"So when he gets a bit fatigued he does tend to do a hamstring or something else, and that's what I was scared of. I probably left him on for 10 minutes longer than I was going to because when he got hold of the ball at least he would keep it.

"But he has been fantastic for us. He's a 15- to 20-goal-a-year man, and he has everything as a player. He's not just a goalscorer, but a fantastic footballer.''

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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