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“Players like Pienaar and (Niko) Kranjcar are good players and they can get in the team. With Pienaar the problem has been his injuries. He has never really got up and running,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
The African winger has been on the sidelines with injuries and really hasn’t had a chance to show his ability with no consistent period of fitness or time on the pitch. With the 29-year-old now fighting fit, he may well have a role to play at the club.
Obviously Gareth Bale is the automatic first choice on the left wing, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto at left back. Tottenham also have Danny Rose in reserve, but quality, left footed players are a bit of a commodity in England and can be difficult to come across. If Spurs were to sell Pienaar they really could only command £5 million (and that’s being optimistic); getting a replacement for that amount of money that has the same ability would be neigh-on-impossible.
Thinking back to Pienaar’s days at Everton, the wideman played a pivotal role in orchestrating the Goodison Park club’s attacking play, and was in high demand when he did choose to leave the Merseyside club. There is no reason why Pienaar can’t have a similar effect at White Hart Lane, and keeping him at the club shows the squad’s strength in depth.
Bale will play in most of the game this season, fitness permitting, and Pienaar will be forced to watch on from the bench. However he could be an effective impact substitute if so required, and an able deputy should Bale be unavailable. Keeping the player is a positive move as Spurs don’t need the money; he may be called upon in the rigorous fixture schedule in the second half of the season.
By Gareth McKnight
Tags: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Danny Rose, Gareth Bale, Harry Redknapp, Steven Pienaar, Tottenham, Tottenham news
