Coyle admires Redknapp

Coyle: Relishing Redknapp test

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Burnley manager Owen Coyle has praised his Tottenham counterpart Harry Redknapp ahead of their meeting in the Carling Cup semi-final on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1.

Coyle has already got the better of Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Fulham chief Roy Hodgson in this season's competition en route to the semi-final.

The former St Johnstone manager has described Redknapp as an inspiration ahead of the first leg clash, but remains confident that his side can overcome the odds once again.

The Clarets sit fifth in the Championship and will be hoping to get back on track against Spurs after failing to win their last three games.

"From my own personal development, it has been a great experience as you want to pit yourself against the best whether as a player or as a manager," Coyle explained.

"I have faced Wenger twice, once in the FA Cup. Scolari is a World Cup winner, it does not get much better than that.

"Hodgson is a top coach in world football and I have immense respect for him. Harry Redknapp, in particular, is an inspiration to any young manager.

"He has worked his socks off to get to where he is. He certainly never followed a glamour route in terms of where he started.

Fantastic

"In football there is sometimes an element who go for what you would call a sexy appointment. Maybe someone who has been a fantastic player but has no real coaching badges.

"Harry has shown that having been at the coal face and worked hard wherever he has been, that's the route you want to go down and develop yourself."

Coyle also praised the work that the former Portsmouth manager had done since he arrived at Spurs.

"They have been re-invigorated and re-energised since Harry's appointment," he added.

"They were struggling with confidence and struggling for results. He has come in and given them a tremendous lift because he is a top manager in world football."

The Burnley boss will look to draw on his experience at having reached two semi-finals in Scotland while manager of St Johnstone and reaching the League Cup final as a player with Bolton when they lost to Liverpool in 1995.

"What I don't want is any regrets," he insisted.

"I don't want them thinking after both legs, 'Oh if only I had done this'. If we get to the level we are capable of we have a chance. We have to be positive.

"If we sit in then Tottenham will pick us off. We can create chances and score goals. But everyone is going to have to work their socks off."