Harry Redknapp has expressed confidence in misfiring Aaron Lennon ahead of Tottenham's clash with FC Twente.
Spurs boss expects winger to find form
Harry Redknapp has expressed confidence in misfiring Aaron Lennon ahead of Tottenham's clash with FC Twente on Wednesday night.
England winger Lennon has failed to make an impact since returning from almost four months out with a groin injury back in April, enduring a dismal World Cup and an uninspiring start to the season.
The 23-year-old has found himself substituted in most of Spurs' games this term and has also been frozen out by Three Lions boss Fabio Capello.
Lennon could start in Tottenham's UEFA Champions League clash at White Hart Lane on Wednesday, but manager Redknapp might instead choose to play the in-form Rafael van der Vaart out wide.
Slump
However the boss insists, regardless of his team selection against the Dutch champions, Lennon will eventually shake off his slump in form.
"He's had the injury and he had a quiet World Cup, really," said Redknapp.
"I think he's getting over the injury from last season. But he's a match winner on his day and it's very hard to be consistent when you play out in that wide position, when you've got to beat people every week and people expect you to get the ball and go whizzing past full-backs, cross balls.
"Full-backs now are as quick as wingers, they get tight, they stop you getting the ball.
"You've got to work very hard to get on the ball now when you play in that wide position.
"It's not always easy but he'll come good."
Fellow midfielder Tom Huddlestone feels his team-mate is suffering from being double-marked by opponents this term.
"I think a lot of teams know his qualities," said Huddlestone, who could captain Spurs on Wednesday.
"At the West Ham game at the weekend, he had a left-back against him and (Luis) Boa Morte - even though he played left-wing - didn't really get forward that much. It was sort of a doubling act on Aaron.
"Anybody with two players on them is going to find it difficult."
Impressed
Lennon's fellow winger Gareth Bale has impressed Redknapp this term, and the manager has backed the 21-year-old to eventually drop back and become the best left-back in the world.
"I think in years to come, he'll be the best left-back anywhere," added Redknapp, who has compared Bale to former Leeds and England star Terry Cooper.
"But he's also a great left-sided player and it suits me to play him wide left most of the time because (Benoit Assou-) Ekotto is also a top, top-class left-back."
