Future for Pienaar at Tottenham still certain

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has insisted that South African striker Steven Pienaar still has a future at the club despite making just five league appearances since joining last year.

Pienaar got a rare taste of action on Saturday after playing in Spurs’ 3-0 FA Cup win over Cheltenham.

But the 29-year-old is expected to return to the bench on Wednesday as Redknapp recalls Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale for the visit of Everton to White Hart Lane.

Redknapp however is adamant that Pienaar can still force his way into Tottenham’s first team despite limited opportunities since signing from Everton in January last year.

“Players like Pienaar and [Niko] Kranjcar are good players and they can get in the team,” Redknapp said. “You saw on Saturday that they have quality and they have a big part to play between now and the end of the season.

Pienaar’s progress at Tottenham has been hampered by fitness concerns following a concussion and a groin injury.

“With Pienaar the problem has been his injuries,” Redknapp said.

“He has never really got up and running. He seems to have injury after injury ... He was one of their main players at Everton and it has been a difficult year for him.”—AFP